Women Connect

Hope, Faith, and Resolutions

2012-01-27T20:55:00.005-06:00

Cancer has a funny way of turning things sour. I must say had I written this post last night, it would have been a much more chipper note about finishing up report cards and the progress that's been made along with the resolutions to see proficiency in leaps and bounds for the second half of the school year.

Today I watched two great assistants leave for new adventures and the sweetest student leave to go out into the unknown, again. They will have new beginnings and hopefully will look back fondly on the last few months that we shared together but there's something to be said about watching a 7 year old boy walk away with tears in his eyes after giving you the biggest most heartfelt squeeze.

When I got home I got a sad message about a dear friend that my girls have shared a large part of their spring and summers working in the garden with. She has been valiantly fighting cancer in a few regions in her body and around Christmas time it sounded like she had beaten cancer for the third time! She is apparently back in the hospital, this time with brain cancer and the new prognosis is grave. My heart breaks for the new beginning she was thought to have. My heart also breaks for the new beginning and renewed hope of her husband that were most recently dashed.

So now I am supposed to write about a resolution or new beginning. I guess that it should be to search out a stronger more meaningful level of faith, or perhaps I need to stop feeling the human pain and start living the joy that comes from Grace, or maybe to live deeper, love longer, and laugh louder. Any way I slice it today, I need to put more effort into seeking God. It isn't about me nor my pain. It isn't about the good times that could be. It is about a plan that was set into motion before I was even born. A plan that I choose to have faith in because our God is AWESOME. Our God can do anything BUT he won't do things for our reasons or on our timeline.

My prayer is that we all will be able to free up even a sliver more of our heart for God and his plan for all of us. Miracles happen everyday if we open our hearts and shut off our minds enough to see them.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Fresh start; fresh thinking

2012-01-24T09:15:00.001-06:00

First sorry I am late on this; with my own “fresh start” to blogging and something new
to my list of tasks I have let myself down in not posting this earlier. I am inspired by Hebrews today chapter thirteen; “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you: So we can say with confidence, “the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to be?”

In reflection of these verses we should have a fresh start on how we treat those around us. Now, I am not talking about those that are our family, friends or bother and sisters we see at church, I am talking about those people we find it hard to call brother or sister. Have you ever truly prayed for someone in prison, hoping they seek forgiveness and realize they too are still loved by God? Have you ever prayed for someone with a tortured soul, hoping they are comforted by the same God that comforts you? I have the verse “are you entertaining angels without knowing it?” Taped to my desk at work, showing this type of hospitality to whomever walks into our lives is
important, you never know when God is placing someone in front of you for a reason. You never know when your actions are what could lead someone to God; you never know when that prayer could change someone’s life. Go into this New Year with the fresh start of embracing all of your brothers and sisters. We pray; “Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.” Amen. Hebrews 13:18

A Different Kind of Resolution

2012-01-13T07:00:00.006-06:00

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."—Colossians 3:1-4

Every year on New Year's, people around the country make resolutions. Usually, these resolutions have to do with changing oneself—one's weight, job, relationships, financial situation. And, by the end of January, most of these resolutions have been forgotten or ignored. But why do we wait until January 1st of every year to make resolutions? And why are they often resolutions with ourselves as the center?

I have to admit that I hadn't even think of resolutions this year until Pastor Chuck brought them up in his sermon this past Sunday. In the past, my resolutions have been just like those listed above. I've resolved to lose weight, exercise more, get a new job, make new friends and save more money. And, while all are good resolutions, they were missing something. Pastor Chuck's sermon, though, reminded me just what that was—that I should not be worrying about who I am, but rather whose I am. Sure, we all know we're children of God. But what does that really mean and how can I live that?

For me, it certainly puts New Year's resolutions in perspective. What if my resolutions weren't just about myself but about others and my relationship with God? And what if my resolutions weren't just made on January 1st, but every day of the year? Though it sounds overwhelming to make daily resolutions, it's also refreshing to think that every day starts out fresh. Every day is a gift from God, one that we are encouraged to live to the glory of God and the love of others. This can be done in so many ways—from taking care of our family to helping our neighbors. And, in the end, these resolutions are much more gratifying and fulfilling for us and everyone around us—more so than any weight loss or new exercise regimen could be. Most importantly, these are all resolutions that can be lived every day and last all year long.

Heavenly Father, Help me as I resolve to live a life in Your image. Guide me in my daily resolutions to do everything to Your glory and for the love of those around me. In Your Name, Amen.

Everlasting Joy

2012-01-06T07:06:00.002-06:00

“…only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them...”

—Isaiah 35:9-10

What is it about a New Year that inspires us to set goals for change? Surely turning a fresh new calendar to Page One plays no small part in this; perhaps the excesses of a holiday season do for some, too. In any case, this month’s theme is redemption.

“Redeem,” a transitive verb, has several nuanced meanings in the English language. Among these, according to Merriam-Webster, are “to get or win back,” “to free from what distresses or harms,” “to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental,” “to release from blame or debt,” “to clear,” and, of course, “to free from the consequences of sin.”

A transitive verb is incomplete without a direct object. This means that the verb is meaningless without a recipient of the action, so, the question is, redeem what? Or better yet, redeem whom?

Redeem Whom? For us Christians, we say, “Well… me, I hope!” We all long for the day when God speaks to us like in Isaiah 43: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned... For I am the LORD your God… you are precious and honored in my sight...”. And all we have to do to receive this protection is to open ourselves to God’s grace through the gift of faith. In God’s eyes, we are allowed to turn the calendar back to Page One over and over, and over again.

On a secular level, something I’ll be working to redeem in this new year—using the “get or win back” definition—is a social life. With a premature infant and a two-year-old, our family is under doctor’s orders to not be out in public for the entire flu season. This means no day care, no family outings to the store—and no church—for five months or longer.

We have broken the rules a few times: for our son’s baptism; for a family brunch at the holidays; and for a weekend at a water park hotel. These rare outings have given us a new appreciation for community and fellowship, and I can hardly wait until we are free to function socially as any normal family.

In this quiet time, I could feel isolated, but the truth is that I feel anything but. Certainly there are very long days at our house, but connectivity is easy with the Internet and a cell phone. And maybe being extraordinarily selective about one’s outings isn’t such a bad thing, in the short term. Speaking for myself, I find that I am just slowed-down enough that every word I say feels real; this is most true at our dinner table, when I lead the prayer, Come Lord Jesus, be our guest…”

Dear Heavenly Father, Redemption comes from you only, through grace and the gift of faith. Help us to trust and recognize your call, and lead us—throughout the endless process of our personal changes and improvements—forever back to you. Amen.

Everyday Miracles

2011-12-29T21:57:00.007-06:00

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Christmas has always been about family and traditions for as long as I can remember. We always made lutefisk, lefse, krumkake, rosettes, rommegrot, sandbakkels,and spritz during the month of December and to tell the truth I never really appreciated these oldies because they were so time consuming to make and seemed to be gone so quickly because they were delicious! It is no wonder that I make some of these each year with my own kiddos. Spritz are the easiest, rommegrot is the most fattening but oh so wonderful, sandbakkels will have to wait until the girls are older.

This year our adventure is lefse. Tonight at 9:50 I finished ricing the potatoes and now they just need to cool until tomorrow when we can embark on our adventure of rolling and cooking them. I say adventure because another tradition we have is bringing my nephew back with us for a week between Christmas and New Years. This year the joy has been doubled because we have both my 9 and 12 year old nephews and tripled because tonight my brother came. Let the good times roll! ;)

We always went to church during the candle-light service on Christmas Eve so you can imagine my heartbreak when I had to miss it because we started to alternate Eve and Day when we got married. It's amazing how much we associate Christmas with the traditions we have as families. These traditions don't make Christmas special but they do add to the essence of the miracle that Christmas embodies. We are back on Christmas Eve with my family every year because it is our time with my nephews because they will now be spending Christmas Day with their mom.

I guess that's where the miracle comes in this year. I have never seen my brother and nephews calm, relaxed, and laughable as much as I have this year. To be honest I was a little hesitant to experience the "joys" associated with Christmas this year but it's not been half bad. I guess that we all have to overcome our preconceived notions and free ourselves for the real miracles of the season! How grateful I am that I do not know the plans God has for me!

Dear Heavenly Father, please encourage us to look for miracles of all sizes during the coming year. Encourage our minds and hearts to be open for your plan and not ours. Your love is great and your power has no limits.

Holiday Traditions

2011-12-27T13:23:00.002-06:00

Holidays traditions and Miracles; WOW
what a topic for my first time blogging.
My name is Heidi Fischer, I am privileged to be employed by Trinity
Lutheran Church as one of the secretaries; I am more privileged to be a happily
married wife of nine years and mother of two children, Amelia and Maddy (I am
sure you will hear plenty about them throughout my blog posts). It is nice to meet all of you; my solemn hope
that you enjoy the blog, so let me get started.

Holiday traditions
The word tradition has these
meanings:
1. The handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs,
information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by
popular tradition.
2. Something that is
handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.
3. A long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting:
4. A continuing pattern
of culture beliefs or practices.
5. A customary or
characteristic method or manner:
When I look at these definitions I
think mmmmmm……. oh yes
1. Santa clause (legends) I believe if I am good
Santa will come (beliefs) Mom; no one ever ate grandma’s fruit cake, why do you
think they will eat yours? (generation to generation)
2. This Nativity set has been in our
family for 100 years (something that is handed down)
3. We always go to candlelight service
on Christmas Eve, we hear how our savior was born in a manger and the angels
praised Glory to God in the Highest and peace to his people on earth.”
(long-established beliefs)
4. We continue to go to candlelight
service on Christmas Eve, we teach our children about Jesus’ birth.
5. Traditionally we make lefse for
Christmas.

With looking at what the word
tradition means, I think the real “meaning” is in what we do with our traditions
during this season. God Bless you all.

Everyday Miracles

2011-12-16T07:33:00.002-06:00

"Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works." — 1 Chronicles 16:9

On November 28, my husband and I experienced the greatest miracle of our lives — the birth of our beautiful son, Benjamin. Nothing can compare to that moment when you see your child and realize that he is even more than you imagined. Everything about a child is a miracle — and in no other instance is it easier to see God at work. How else could this tiny little person grow inside his or her mom for 9 months and come out ready for the world?

It's easy to see why Mary and Joseph saw baby Jesus as a miracle. He not only was promised to be the Savior to all people, but he was a child. Mary may have been a virgin, but Jesus was born out of a love not only between Mary and Joseph, but between God and His people. What a miracle that is that God gave Jesus to save all of us on earth!

It's easy to see those big miracles in our lives — births of children and grandchildren or recoveries after serious illnesses. But, since having Benjamin almost 3 weeks ago, I've begun to notice those small miracles that are often so easy to look past. The way Benjamin now calms down to my or Andy's voice, his almost smile to us this morning and the way he grabs our fingers are all tiny miracles in themselves. It's so easy to not notice those, especially on the days when he won't sleep or is a little crankier than usual. But it's so important to remember that every part of every day is truly a miracle and a gift from God. It often is easier to do this during the holidays, when the miracle of Christmas serves as a reminder to us all to appreciate everything and everyone in our lives. But, this part of the season can live with us all year round — and help us see those everyday miracles in the happiest and toughest times of the year.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder this Christmas season of the miracles all around us. Help us to remember what a miracle your gift of Jesus is to us and to see even the smallest miracles every day of the year. In Your name, Amen.

Be a Shepherd?

2011-12-02T00:15:00.000-06:00

“See Him in a manger laid

Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

With us sing our Savior's birth…”

—From “Angels We Have Heard on High,” author unknown.

Lyrics translated to English by James Chadwick in 1862

I am in the unique position of being able to create and choose new holiday traditions. Finally! I have a very young family of my own, and together my husband and I, along with our boys, will be building a legacy of love, fun, and merriment at the Christmas season. I am eager to see how our planning forges some wonderful memories for us in the years to come.

Here are some of the ways I’d love to mark the holiday season… someday:

1. Go caroling! I’ve never done this before in my life!

2. Host an Open House. Cookies and cocoa galore!

3. Make a Martha Stewart-worthy gingerbread house. Or ANY gingerbread house!

4. Make luminaries out of ice for Christmas Eve! Oooh, ahhh… sparkly!

5. Drag a tree home using a horse-drawn sleigh! I know, that’s a longshot in 2011!!

I could make a list with 1,000 more things on it, all things I “should” like to do “someday.” But none of this busywork brings me closer to God, does it?

Advent, what little I know about it, is the time when we reflect on the promise of Jesus. (And I’m pretty sure this promise doesn’t have anything at all to do with the “hundreds of gifts under $100” at the electronics store.) So how can I bring a quiet mind and peaceful heart to the holiday season?

The Christmas Star. Image Source Unknown.

First, I am going to listen to a lot of classical choral music. Then, I am going to read some inspirational stories. After that, I will pause to consider the snowflakes. (No really, I am going to. Okay, I am at least going to TRY to. This is a little Zen for me, but I’m game.) Then, I think I’ll have a cup of tea. Rinse, repeat.

Notice that none of this involves shopping, making, or really “doing” anything? I think as a still-somewhat-new Christian – and a very new parent – my best bet this season is to be like a shepherd; just live out in the fields nearby, and keep watch.

Dear Heavenly Father, we know that traditions are only useful to us if they are meaningful. Lend us your aid so that we may see through the hollow, the shallow, and the superficial in order to find the heart of the Christmas message in everything we do during this season, and always. Amen.

Giving Thanks!

2011-11-24T21:57:00.001-06:00

Psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Oh, just be thankful that you aren’t…

Oh, just be thankful that you don’t…

Oh, it could be worse…

We’ve all heard these sayings from well intending people. Someone somewhere has more trouble or less good fortune than we do and we should be thankful that we aren’t in their shoes. In reality, we are thankful that we don’t have someone else’s troubles but in our own pain, we sometimes sit.

It’s a tough cycle to be in but it’s an even tougher cycle to break. One saying that rings true for me is “steppin’ up”. The story is of an old donkey that fell in a dry well and his owner who threw dirt on him to bury him, alive. As the dirt came down upon the donkey’s back he finally realized that he was being buried alive! He chose to keep stomping and as the dirt fell in, it was compacted and the donkey rose up out of the well and walked away. There is one other way that the story could have ended. The donkey could have given up and been buried alive feeling sorry for himself. (I will add a disclaimer about depression/anxiety here, there are times when some people just can’t “step up” and that’s where our prayers come into play.)

I remember this story when things get bleak and I am thankful that I can appreciate the small things that others often miss. Part of it must be that the small successes in my students’ and my own kids’ lives are monumental to me. Seeing the light in their face when they finally secure a concept or skill that has been giving them grief, is HUGE! Watching kids work through their troubles or “problem solve” as we call it at our house, is an amazing thing. This is a great skill for kids to work on and perfect. We must lead with empathy BUT we can’t give them everything in the instant that they ask. We owe it to our kids to show them the importance of appreciating the small things.

I am thankful for my family and friends, my job, our health, and last but not least our faith. I appreciate: my husband, my kids, our gardens, cooking, canning, making soap and lip balm… all things that I can do that bring me joy. Not everyone can find something enjoyable about picking weeds, trust me, I don’t always either but this year most of all I am thankful that I have a basement full of beautiful jars filled with the fruits of our labor.

Dear Heavenly Father~

Thank you for the everyday things that can bring us joy. Watching the sun rise and set and appreciating the glorious colors that you start and end our day with makes my heart sing. Please instill in us a gift of thanksgiving for those simple things that can go unnoticed. Help us to understand that believing in you is not simply enough. We must also believe you! Amen

Teaching Me to Be Thankful

2011-11-10T11:00:00.014-06:00

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

—Colossians 3:15-16

I grew up in Cedarburg, a northern suburb of Milwaukee. With my parents having grown up in Cedarburg as well, I was, and still am, very close to my family. On top of that, my sister Stephanie and I are just 14 months apart, so I've also had a close relationship with her, both as a sister and best friend. I've always been thankful for her, but it's her gratitude despite her struggles that has inspired me to be thankful every day.

As a baby, Stephanie was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. The syndrome presents itself most often as port wine birthmarks and increased growth of tissue and bones. My sister has struggled with swollen and aching legs and through numerous surgeries as a child. When I think back to our childhood, though, I hardly even remember the surgeries or the doctor visits. Her last surgery, for scoliosis when she was 13, was more trying and resulted in a week stay in the hospital. But, I never remember a complaint or my sister every feeling bad for her condition.

Grade school was hard for her, but high school was even tougher. But, even with those mean-spirited remarks and the glances at her legs, my sister remained positive. Sure, she had her moments—we all do. But while I would fume about the comments I heard from classmates in the hallway, she was busy living her life and truly making the most of it.

Now, 10 years later, she is working through a divorce and trying her best to get her life back together. And, though there are still hard days, she's thankful. Thankful for family, thankful for friends, thankful for a job, and, most of all, thankful for her faith that keeps her together. Through this all, she's found strength in God and thanked Him for all the blessings in her life.

Simply, I find my sister an inspiration. I spend days worrying about the littlest things and completely forgeting to thank God for everything...all while my sister finds the silver lining in otherwise tough days. She forces me to take a moment and think about all that I've been given in my life—all the while remembering that those things I worry about are so inconsequential. And, the amazing part is that she likely doesn't even realize that she is such an example of happiness and gratitude.

November is the perfect time to remember those who we are thankful for and those who inspire us to be thankful. But every day of the year I realize how thankful I am for my sister—not just because of who she is, but who she makes me as well.

Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you given me, from the people in my life to the breaths I take every day. Help me to be gracious and thankful, despite the little difficulties that seem to take over my life. Help me remember the wonderful abundance of people and things in my life, all made possible through you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Necklace

2011-11-06T23:20:00.000-06:00

“God's banners are o'er us, His light goes before us…”

—Excerpt from “Let All Things Now Living,” lyrics by Katherine Davis

I have a necklace that was given to me by a woman I admire. On one side there is a woodcut image of a bird and the word “Gratitude.” On the reverse side, in a stylized typewriter font, is the word “Abundance.” This pendant is circular, like a coin, implying that the words are like two sides of the same coin; that one naturally follows the other. Turn it over and over, and it becomes a cycle: gratitude = abundance = gratitude = abundance.

I wear the necklace often; it was around my neck when I went into an early labor last August, and it was still on my neck when my husband and I were buzzed into the secure NICU at 3 am the following morning. At that time, I was full of gratitude—gratitude that my son was still alive.

And in the coming weeks I felt many abundances—an outpouring of support from family, friends, and colleagues; a wealth of good news about my son’s health; and, most importantly, a sense within of unbounded strength and assurance that I credit as the hand of God.

This happens to be a neat coincidence (and now that my son is home, a nice memory) for me. But as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, in addition to re-counting my blessings, I am also considering those who may not have thanks to give, those who feel anything but abundance in their lives.

It’s easy to praise and thank God when the news is happy; what about when it’s not? The bible tells us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4). We know this is true. And the bible is full of faith stories, healing events, and illuminating parables.

But for someone in the darkest depths of a depression, or in the middle of a crisis—either of which are all the more agonizing at the holidays—perhaps the words of an ancient text are too abstract. Perhaps they need a kind of modern-day “interpreter.” Perhaps they need us to remind them that it’s okay to say, “God, I have a big problem” — but that their prayer may be transformed if only they turn the coin over and say, “Problem, I have a big God!”

Dear Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to see that your banners are over us, and your light goes before us—as well as to know that the assurance of your care is incontrovertible, whether the current circumstances of our lives are happy, sad, or somewhere in the middle. Amen.

Christ in our Home

2011-10-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Many parents have their own take on how they should parent in the eyes of God. “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, “obedience”, and “fear” are all words that I have heard parents use in reference to how they should and do raise their children. Is one any better than the other? Personally it has a lot to do with who we are, who our children are, and who we want them to be. As teachers, Jason and I are well aware that we are role models not only to our student but also to their parents. We are keenly aware that we have the power to make a good situation horrible and to make a bad situation better. Do we have a magic key? Nope but because we choose to learn all we can about how kids learn, respond, and grow, we have a few more keys to use before we lose our cool. What did Jesus do when he saw someone having a bad time? Did he move their behavior marker to yellow and then to red? Did he make it worse by adding more fuel to their fire? Did he lead with empathy and then make the situation a learning opportunity? He led with empathy and compassion!

Parenting is a journey and to be honest, you don’t know what you don’t know. We do the best we can with what we have and sometimes fail miserably! There are times we would like to take back but the reality is that we can’t. The choices we make will influence our children for their entire life! (There is the aspect of nature that needs to be accounted for too!) Knowing what I do now, I’d have changed some of the ways that we started parenting Gracie and to be quite honest, the new knowledge we have now has been infinitely helpful in raising Lili! There is no quick fix BUT having an arsenal of tools to choose from will help any parent make better choices when the situation turns sour. Some of the tools that have helped Jason and I become better parents include “Love and Logic” and “Conscious Discipline”. Though these programs equip parents with the skills that can help make things better for our kids… they are not a magic trick! They are not a pill to swallow to make all things rosy… they are tools that can help.

Long story short, Christ is in our home when we are empathetic. He is in our home when we pray for those that need guidance. He is in our home when we are grateful for ALL that we have and downplay ALL that we don’t have. He is in our home when we humbly share what we have with others. He is in our home when we slow down and contemplate what really is important in our life. Christ is in our home every day in every way when we let him in! He has a plan that we cannot know because if we did, we as humans would try to fix it or speed up the pain to get to the happiness!

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help us to see that you must be in our homes and not just tucked away in the church for us to visit on Sunday mornings and Christmas and Easter. Help us to see that leading with empathy is the only way to promote a positive future for all that we know. Through you, with you, and in you we thrive. Amen!

The Ministry of Motherhood

2011-10-23T21:09:00.005-05:00

As for me and family we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

http://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Motherhood-Following-Reaching-Children/dp/1578565820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319423568&sr=8-1

This month I have chosen something that is near and dear to me, the Ministry of Motherhood. There are many topics that I could write about, but rather I would like to point you to a book that I keep on my nightstand which bears the same title. The Ministry of Motherhood, following Christ's example in reaching the hearts of our children by Sally Clarkson. She writes about giving our children the gifts of Grace, Inspiration, Faith, Training and Service. I have read it and I re-read it because it is how I bring myself back to what is important in theirs and my lives. Our days can be filled with so much tedium from school to after school activities to bedtime that many days we need to re-focus. I recommend her books to any mom (or dad) out there that believes that motherhood isn't just a job, it is a calling.

Also, I have mentioned in the past about one of my favorite blogs to follow is wearethatfamily.com, but there is also another one that I find inspirational and that is seeds of faith for the Christian mom.

Heavenly Father, Give all of our children a sense of calling on their lives that they might desire to serve you with their whole hearts. Amen