Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

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

“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

“In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture.”

~ Amy Grant~
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far

I did not originally write this post for this weeks quote, but it kind of fits so I thought I would use it.

     Many of you are closing your windows and beginning to settle in for winter, we here in Florida have every window, door, etc…wide open. We are all dancing because it is finally COOL. Not cold mind you, but cool. I know all you that live up North are going to laugh, but as soon as it drops below the 80’s we get our winter boots out, our jeans, and yes even our jackets. We like to pretend like that. The breeze is blowing, the sun is shinning and everyone over the age of 65 is making their way to Sunny Florida.

     I don’t think I could live somewhere where it is dark and cold all the time, but I do have to tell you it is hard to get in the Christmas mood when you are putting up your tree while wearing shorts. Hopefully this year we will have some sort of winter, last winter all we had was January. I will be heading to Phoenix soon, and even they are having cooler weather than Florida, so I will be packing all my winter clothes so I can at least say I wore them once this year. Ha.

     Football is now over in Laurel’s household, we have a wedding to attend next weekend, and then we head to Arizona. I have not shared some very exciting news with you all, I guess I wanted to wait. Any of my regular readers know my sister has two very wonderful girls, both adopted. Before my sister decided to follow through with adoption she and her husband went through every possible method to conceive. You name it they went through it, nothing worked. It was a very difficult, emotional time for her, and I spent a lot of time on my knees pleading to the Lord. But there is beauty in ashes. Through this I was blessed with two nieces who I know were born for our family. And if my sister never had troubles they would not be here. I love them so much. Through this my sister and I grew closer, we were not always close growing up but this pain really deepened our relationship. God did such a beautiful work in my sister also, God broke her (and let me tell you it was painful to watch), but boy what a diamond she is today. Sometimes God has to break us and then build us up for his glory. He did that to me through finances, with my sister it was infertility. Neither one of us would want to repeat any of the pain, but we would never replace it either because of what the Lord developed in each of us.

     So where does today find us? God is faithful. Many times our plans our not his plans, right now I sit questioning that on the selling my home. But here I sit practically debt free (except for one car and my house). And my sister is now 3 months pregnant. It is both ALL GOD’S DOING. Not us. I am reminded that God does things on His timing, and His time is always right. God knew those two precious girls that my sister is Mommy to, were born for our family and she needed to go through some pain in order to get them where they belong.

     I have faith that God’s timing on the sale of my house is the same way. I wish I could say I sit content in this, alas I don’t. There are tears, there is frustration, and even dare I say anger at times. But I logically know God’s timing is best, and I would not want anything differently. So even though I am not faithful, God is faithful. His grace and mercy covers my impatience. And can you join me in being absolutely thrilled for my sister’s pregnancy, what an answer to a lot of prayers.

Elisa at Extravagant Grace is our wonderful host this week.

Tags: Family, God, Sister

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”
~ A.W. Towzer ~

God is love, God has unlimited mercy, God is patient, God died for everyone who accepts him. These are all things we enjoy thinking about. When you think of God or Christ what is the first thing that pops in your head? It is His love. Romans 5:8 says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Love is what Christ displayed here on earth. People followed him because of the love he displayed. But if you only know God’s love and nothing else, you don’t see the whole picture.

God is our Ancient of Days, he is our judge and jury. When we die, Hebrews 9:27 states, “..and just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Death is not the end. God is a God of justice. John Piper once said, “And it is the most terrifying prospect in the universe, that we might be met after death with a holy and angry and omnipotent God holding us accountable for whether we trusted him and worshiped him and followed his ways in this life.” You will be judged, if you trusted Christ and followed him in this life then when you are judged you will have the verdict, “paid in full.” Christ paid for your judgment, and you are set free. But if you just lived a good life but never accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. The Omnipotent God will look at you and say, “I know you not, depart from me.”

If you are like me and have family members who are not Christians this is a hard pill to swallow. I would like to believe they would not suffer the harshness of judgment, but they have heard and have chosen not to believe. It breaks my heart in more ways than I can put into words.
To believe in God’s love, is to believe in his justice also. Just like Towzer stated, we can not just accept what we like, and leave behind that which makes us uncomfortable.

Visit “Chocolate and Coffee “ to read her take on the quote and to leave your link along with the other participants.

Tags: A.W. Towzer, In Other Words, judgement

“We women must realize how visual men are, and because of that we should wear modest clothes. Not because we don’t have the right to wear what we want, but for the benefit of the spiritual life of our brothers in Christ”
~Heather Arne Paulsen Emotional Purity:An Affair of the Heart

So many times when I am on the football field, or even sometimes at church I find myself saying, “I can not believe she is wearing that and my husband can see her.” Did she not look in the mirror before she left for the day? As a wife I don’t like to be in that situation.

As a woman sometimes I can understand because while growing up I struggled in this area. I wanted to dress pretty and be noticed. I believe it is a form or insecurity in many women. It comes from the days of being a little girl in a dress and twirling around saying, “look at me Daddy.” As girls we receive compliments by the pretty dresses, and pretty appearance we display.

When I read the book, “Do You Think I am Beautiful” by Angela Thomas, it was not just the women who consider themselves plain that suffered with the self image problem, it was knock-out, drop dead pretty women. We all want to be noticed. Some are noticed by a special skill or talent, or ability. And some are noticed by how they make themselves look towards others.

Now I have a teenage son, I am seeing things differently. I cringe when I see a lady in a tank top that does not cover her stomach, or someone wearing something low cut that does not leave much to the imagination.  This not only can cause a young man to trip up spiritually but it also can cause a grown man who is secure in his marriage to view his wife differently. “Why don’t you wear things like that?” “Oh you would look good in that.” Are comments a wife can hear, and even if said in innocence it makes her feel she does not measure up. There needs to be a balance of being stylish and feeling good about how you look and being modest around others. Your modest clothes are not just to be worn to church (even that is becoming a problem), but at all times. Football games, grocery stores, shopping, etc.

I am shopping for a dress to attend a wedding, and for a Christmas dress.  I have to say I am struggling to find something that is not all bare on top.  It is becoming more difficult but there are places that cater to modest, stylish clothing.  As women we need to make sure we support them with our money, and make it known we will not put up with many of the styles that are out there now.

For more takes on this weeks IOW quote visit my friend Loni over at Finding Joy in the Morning.  (plus she has an added bonus this week)

Tags: IOW, Modesty

“Gentleness is part of being feminine - part of being a woman, and God made us distinctly different from men on purpose!”
~ Melanie Chitwood (Proverbs 31 Ministries)

What is the difference between man and woman? I think this poem by Kathryn Parrish says it all.

Modern Woman

These are the days of the E.R.A..,
When modern woman would have her way;
The scriptures, it seems, she’s never heard,
For she pays no attention to God’s word.

God’s order of the sexes she just ignores,
For man’s place she covets more and more,
Saying that she would be equal with man,
Forgetting the fact that she never can.

Neither could man ever take her place,
For he’s not equipped for bearing the race,
Nor has he a mother’s instinct and love,
Given to her from heaven above.

Now man reasons coolly with his head,
But woman is led by emotions instead;
God equipped man to take the hard knocks,
But made the woman, the cradle to rock.

Still, modern woman doesn’t see it that way,
So against her maker she rebels every day;
With bobbed hair and immodest dress,
For God’s Holy Word she could care less.

And even in churches this rebellion prevails,
For God said long hair and a covering, or veil;
In the church, be silent, be quiet and meek,
But she has even decided to preach!

Now God knows whats best for His creation,
And, oh, how well off would be this nation,
If each home were a castle, every man a king,
With a queen subjected to him in all things.

A queen he could love, and honor, and cherish,
And work to this end, that their home might flourish;
A queen in whom his heart could safely trust ,
He would seek her well-being, and protect her he must!

She would send him off with a smile and a prayer,
And a sense of well-being, knowing she was there;
To watch over his children and keep them from harm,
Teaching them and guiding them with a firm, loving arm.

And then he would hurry when day’s work was done,
Home to his queen, his daughters and sons;
They would live for each other and all live for God,
Serving Him together as life’s path they trod.

Oh, how much better off would be the human race,
If woman, once more, would take her God-given place;
But these are the days of the E.R.A.,
And modern woman would have her own way.

Yes, a bit on the controversial side, but I think it clearly shows how as women we have got off track to what God has made our purpose. Do I think we should wear veils, and be silent in church…NO. But as woman we have blurred the line between mens roles and womems roles. This is something I feel strongly about because I am finding more and more that my boys are not permitted to act like….well boys. Girls ask boys out now, girls take the lead. I have already talked to my boys on how that should not be so. I want them to be the leaders of the house, not the other way around.

Please visit Iris at Sting My Heart for more thoughts on this weeks quote.

“We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle.” ~ Oswald Chambers

I really need to pick quotes I don’t mind living (I say this tongue in check).

Mettle is defined as one’s disposition or temperament.

Well my disposition and temperament was put to the test this last week, and crescendoing (not sure if that is a word….) Friday night. I would like to live my life on the mountain top, I can see the beauty all around me, and the air is clearer and cleaner. I can see for miles ahead and I know where I am going.

I love to sing and I love to pray,Worship the Lord most every day.I go to the temple, and I just want to stay,To hide from the hustle of the world and its ways.**

But unfortunately the times on the mountain are only small reprieves for my time in the valley. We are built to live in the valley. And how we handle the valleys is where Christ develops us.

In the valley things get muddy, you can not see much more than your next footstep and the air around you can just plain stink. During this time we learn to have faith and trust in the Lord. We can not live out the great commission on the mountain top.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt 28:18-20)

Last week just stunk for me, things broke, or did not go my way; I was in an emotional malaise, and I just could not see straight. Then on Friday night my youngest son did something that crashed my computer. Usually the human side of me would get really angry and ask him, “What were you doing?”

But I did not, I forgave right away. I was not happy mind you, but I did not get upset at my son. Through this frustration which did last until Sunday, I saw my oldest son reach out and show sympathy towards my situation. I had my youngest learn how to apologize. And my husband was very helpful in both cheering me up and late Sunday night after some tears of frustration; he found all the items I lost.

Even if he did not recover my stuff, I could see the good that came out of the bad. As Amy Grant says, worship is all we say and everything we do, and that is especially true in the valley. It is in the valley that we let Christ’s light shine. Non believers are not impressed when we display Christ during good times; they take notice when life is falling down around us and we display Christ.

I am not saying that worship is wrong,But worship is more than just singin’ some songs,’Cause it’s all that we say and everything that we do;It’s letting God’s Spirit live through you.

But I’ve got to come down From the mountain top To the people in the valley below;They’ll never know That they can go To the mountain of the Lord.**

**Amy Grant song “Mountain Top”

FYI-I am trying a new Mr. Linky thing to see if it works. We will see Just click where it says “Leave a comment” (which is in the Mr. Linky descrpiton box, not MY comment box) and if you are a participant then click the box at the bottom of the comment box.

If your playing ‘In “Other” Words’, please leave your URL with the other participants. And if you’re not playing, you’re welcome to join. All you have to do is write a post about the quote on your blog and come back here to add your name along with the rest. You can get the CWO icon here.

“We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle.” ~ Oswald Chambers

If your playing ‘In “Other” Words’ next week, please come back Tuesday and leave your URL with the other participants. And if you’re not playing, you’re welcome to join. All you have to do is write a post about the quote on TUESDAY on your blog and come back here to add your name along with the rest. You can get the CWO icon here.

…..”and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.” My problems won’t seem so big, my worries not so insurmountable, my fears are not that great in the view of His glory. And it is through His grace that I can get back up when I struggle with my faith and I let my worries, fears, and problems cloud his Glory.

The above paragraph is what I wrote earlier, but I have really been meditating on this quote (thank you Lori!) so I will, as my sister always tell me , “Laurel just barf it out and you will feel better.” (here is goes) I could not get this quote out of my mind, I was stewing all day about it so I did what any FOB does when they are in a bad mood….you bake! (oh you want to know what an FOB is, “Friend of Barb”)…hehee

Anyways, as I was baking my mind kept coming back to “me, me, me…” whoa is me….

No on showed up for our house showing this weekend, NO ONE. I am defeated, I am depressed and God is either telling me to wait or is telling me no. Two answers that I detest. Heavenly Father, when will I take your answers and just be ok with it? How weak I am, how great my need for you is. But lately I have been “me, me, me.”

Remember the lovely window that my kids broke (here), well guess what THE SAME WINDOW broke once again. No one has confessed this time. I have lived in this house over 9 years and have not had one broken window, now two in three months. See Lord, we are literally busting out of this house! I told the company I should just go on “retainer.” Here I am “me, me, me…”

I am turning older this month, I don’t want to get older I would like to stay where I am thankyouverymuch! I don’t take birthday’s with grace, I fight them. I know the alternative is worse. “me, me, me…”

DO YOU SEE A THEME HERE. I have been living in my pity party, my poor email friends (and family) have listened all about me, me, me. I just need to GET OVER MYSELF and let God have the controls. Ok back to the regular scheduled post….

Keep your eyes on Jesus and your purpose and perspective will stay clear. This is a reminder I needed this week. I have been struggling with fears, worries, and problems. And I know it is because I took my eyes off my purpose (and placed it on myself) and I need to leave all my worries to him. Lori thank you for picking a wonderful quote and for joining us in hosting In ‘other’ Words.

You can grab the In ‘other’ Words code here and then head on over to
Lori over at I Will Take it Lord, All You Have To Give to read more takes on this weeks quote.

“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?” Dr. Martin Luther

You can get the CWO icon here. Head on over to Sting My Heart to read more wonderful takes on this weeks quote.

ALSO!!!

What is that I smell? Is it coffee? Then that must mean one thing….INTERNET CAFE!!

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

This is a story not even my parents know about yet…..