Just a Daisy in the Meadow

Some days ya just gotta enjoy the “splashes”!

Need ideas for healthy eating . . . Try these smoothies

“I have no greater joy . . .

than

to know

that

my children

walk

in

truth!”

Now is the time to plant seeds of righteousness, joy, peace with God . . .

Now is the time of sowing . . .

Someday I’m gonna reap what I have sown . . .

Praying for my children is something I haven’t done enough of, in fact if I’m honest I will have to admit it has been sorely neglected  . . . So many times I’m just trying to keep my head above water in the basics of feeding, clothing, training adnd schooling them . . . Why have I not put the most important part first?!? . . . So  God is changing that in my life . . . He’s teaching me how to pray . . . and when . . .

Anyway, I’ve been blessed by Kirsten Wertz’s list so here it is below for you . . .

The Gift of Prayer – By Kirsten Wertz

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray Over Your Children

Salvation.  “Lord, let salvations spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (Is. 45:8, IITim. 2:10)

Growth in grace.  “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18)

Love.  “Grant, Lord that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them.  (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2)

Honesty and Integrity.  “May integrity and honesty be their virtue and protection.” (Ps.25:21)

Self-Control.  “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all that they do.” (I Thes. 5:6)

Love for God’s Word.  “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb.”  (Ps.19:10)

Justice.  “God help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do.” (Ps. 11:9, Mic.6:8)

Mercy.  “May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Respect (For self, others, authority).  “Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands.” (I Peter 2:17)

Biblical Self-Esteem  “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:10)

Faithfulness.  “Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.”  (Prov. 3:3)

Courage.  “May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.”  (Dt.31:6)

Purity.  “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.” (Ps. 51:10)

Kindness.  “Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”  (I Thes. 5:15)

Generosity.  “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”  (I Tim. 6:18-19)

Peace-loving.  “Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Rom. 14:19)

Joy.  “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”  (I Thes. 1:6)

Perseverance. “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do and help them especially to run with perserverance  the race marked out for them.”  (Heb. 12:1)

Humility.  “God please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.”  (Titus 3:2)

Compassion.  “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion”  (Col.3:12)

Responsibility.  “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load.”  (Gal.6:5)

Contentment.  “Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength.”  (Phil. 4:12, 13)

Faith.  “I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith, they may gain, what has been promised to them.” (Lk. 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40)

A servant’s heart.  “God, please help my children develop servants hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men.”  (Eph. 6:7)

Hope.  “May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Ro.15:13)

Willingness and ability to work.  “Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.”  (Col. 3:23)

Passion for God.  “Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘followeth hard after Thee’ (Ps. 63:8). One that clings passionately to You.”

Self-discipline.  “Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.  (Prov. 1:3)

Prayerfulness,  “Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  (Eph. 6:18)

Gratitude. “Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ .”  (Eph. 5:20), Col. 2:7)

A heart for missions.  “Lord, please  help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples.”  (Ps. 96:3)

God is worthy to be praised!

Oh, the beauty and joy he provides!!!  It’s unequaled!

Love those Texas wildflowers!

Bluebonnets.

. . . and wild roses

Love how God created us to be “two by two” or two blended together to make one!

. . . Though sometimes the process is a bit painful.  God uses us to file off some of the rough edges of each other

But He also uses marriage to show me more of how I can be one with Him . . .

The weather was absolutely gorgeous!  . . . Perfect in my book.

And the fresh morning air with the heavenly scent of flowers everywhere . . . Well, that’s hard to beat!!!

We’d be missin’ somethin’ if God left out the color and shades of pink. I’m tellin’ ya!!!

I was expecting this Arboretum to be more staunchly perfect, if you know what I mean,  not sure the right words to describe some of the flower gardens I’ve seen, but I LOVED this place!  All the roses were the old-fashioned kind that smell outa this world.

Cascading down over trellises . . .

and over arbors . . .

and benches . . .

A special day . . . with a very special guy!

What a joy to travel through life with your best friend on earth!

. . . and be soul mates . . t o be able to share in walking with God, and share about the things He’s doing in your own heart and in the heart of family and loved ones.

With open faces . . . keeping nothing back . . . comfortable and happy, totally satisfied in each others presence.

Purple tulips, pansies, and cream tulips, stone wall, singing birds, fresh air . . .

All some of the best physical gifts in this world!

But the best is . . . being together!

God, I don’t deserve all these wondrous gifts . . . A faithful loving husband, friend to hold my hand through thick and thin,  a great father to all my little people, one who delights them by love and attention, a father who is by far more patient and tender  in love and discipline,  all the heavenly scents and fragrances that delight my heart, the beauty and loveliness of  a soft, velvety petal, the 3-Dness of life, the freshness of each morning, with dewdrops and mistiness, with twitterings  and twills of songbirds, watching the butterflies hover over a blossom, the expanse of water rippling in the sun, and I could go on . . . but I haven’t the time right now.

But God you’ve blessed me beyond measure . . . and I know you are good, even when I don’t feel blessed and when despair and hard times hit . . . You are good nonetheless!!!

But today, I just want to say, thank-YOU!

And today THANK-YOU for this guy you brought into my life,

for the almost ten years that I’ve known him,

For the times good and hard, we’ve had together.

For creating the ability to feel love

. . . and sorrow

For sharing Yourself, creating us in Your image,

Showing you Great Love, by sending your precious love, your Son,

Loving us enough to let Him suffer for us . . .

Such love . . . No other love,

God,

can be compared

to

the

love

with what

You

love

us!!!

“If I ask to be delivered from the trial rather than for deliverance out of it, to the praise of His glory;  if I forget that the way of the Cross leads to the Cross and not to a bank of flowers;  if I regulate my life on these lines, or een unconsciously my thinking so that I am surprised when the way is rough, and think it strange, though the Word is ‘Think it not strange . . . Count it all joy . . . ‘) then I know nothing of Calvary love.”

Been reading Amy Carmichael’s “IF” . . . if you wondered.

Jaden turns four today!

Stayed home with FIVE sick children Sunday . . . not really my idea of a special Easter . . . but did have a special time “Alone” (as a mother can be)  with the Lord . . . God is good . . . He is faithful . . . He is powerful . . . He’s not dead, but more alive than you or I can ever be!

Finally got the stroller out of the garage.  It was a job just getting it out!!!

The boys had some help last week on their little log cabin in the woods.  They love working out there cuttin’ logs and such though they have been banned from having a fire out there for awhile due to not taking proper precautions against forest fires.

Japheth and Jeremiah are the younger boys on this pic.  Neighbors are wonderful people . . . at least if you have the kind we do!!!

Just a few of Violet Faith . . .

Babies are such a miracle . . . What an awesome Creator!

God made little girls just for their Mama’s  . . . Can’t believe I have three daughters now!

Recognize the dress, Deborah? Love it!

Two of the most precious people in the world . . .

The love of a mother for her child is strong . . . If ya didn’t know

Children truly are a gift from God . . . one of the best kind!!!

Napping is quite the challenge around this household.  Take for instance today.  Ya gotta sleep when baby sleeps, right?  Everybody knows that!

Violet didn’t sleep much this morning, so I concluded that she would probably sleep good at nap time.  Well she went down early, like right after our early lunch.  So get everybody else settled quick, this Mama needs a nap big time today!  I laid down for a few minutes getting into that sleepy state only to get back up again to take needed measures to get the 2 year old to understand that Mama meant business when she said be quiet and go to sleep.  Back to my room and under the covers, pillows adjusted just right, snuggled down for ten more minutes and whooops Violet must’ve just wanted a cat nap.  Why, I thought she’d sleep long and hard for sure!  I stand over  her cradle hoping it is just a passing thought . . .  Nope.  Might as well get her up and feed her again, but first I try the swing cause I just fed her not long ago.  Maybe that will take care of her . . .

Sittin’ in the rocker, rocking my baby, I hear a faint “Mama”.  Calling up a reminder that, “No, Jaden, you may not get up yet.  You have to sleep first”, I continue feeding Violet.  Loraine peeps out from under her blanket house in the living room (I’d forgotten I let her nap there today)  “Mom, you said I don’t need to take naps anymore.”  “Yes, but you’re too tired from yesterday’s excursions, so you need to today.”

Ok, try swing again after feeding bottle, almost goes to sleep.  I head back to bed . . . only to get all snuggled in nice when Violet decides that no, she really doesn’t want to sleep.  I fling back the blankets and hit the floor once more.  Okay, in the jumper you go and please be happy there!!!

Jeremiah comes upstairs hearing all these transactions.  Wondering if it’s time to come up.  “No.  I’ll let you know.  You are to stay in your spot till then.  Understood?!?! ” Only reason I’m up is to take care of the baby.  Japheth comes up to use bathroom and make sure he isn’t missing out on anything . . .  Grrrrr . . . They just don’t get the point, do they?!?!

Finally, I  let Loraine stop trying to sleep and just have quiet time.  Now she’s over there reading a noisy book! Oh my . . . no wonder my hair is graying fast . . . cause this is just a typical naptime here at our house. 

Enjoy your nap if you take one and if you don’t be thankful you don’t need on.

It’s all in the life of a mother . . .

Now that I’m not pregnant and have adjusted to a new baby, we are on a schedule.  For the most part I like it.  It helps me keep focused.  This is good!!!  So many sidetractions can get me off track of what really needs to be done.  But till lunch time I am a bit frizzy brained and frazzled having to go between a third grade, a second grader, (kinda) first grader and three other preschoolers and the newborn.

And today we just had to have lunch earlier cause Mom couldn’t handle any more and needed a break.  She sent them all outside expect the baby of course and just crashed on the couch, having her own “quiet blanket time”.

And for an update after my last post,  I’m able to function better now . . . And so life goes on!

Not sure what to say . . . other than I’ve never had post postpartum depression so bad as this time . . . just hangs on and gets worse than ever . . . What is your experience with postpartum depression?