Why do I write to encourage mothers? And a CONFERENCE TICKET OR Book giveaway--you can help!

Paul Peel, mother and child

A CONFERENCE TICKET GIVEAWAY OR $50 IN BOOKS!

BE SURE TO COMMENT AND TELL US YOUR ENTRIES BY MIDNIGHT, DECEMBER 11!

‎"God designed mothers to partner with Him in His eternal work.... It is for the children's sake that we give our lives. We are protecting future generations that they might be strong for the battle of life. We are the real, in-the-flesh, tangible picture of God's loving hands, strong arms of protection, and encouraging words of hope to our children." ~ Sally Clarkson, The Mission Of Motherhood.

As a young woman, someone shared Christ with me in my 10th floor dorm room, while I was at college, wanting to know Him. To understand that God knew me and still loved and accepted me was revolutionary. I was discipled by a sweet young woman who told me that as a growing believer, the Lord wanted me to be available to pass on what I was learning about Him to others, who like me, wanted to know Him, His love and forgiveness and the kingdom principles that He taught.

And so, young and passionate, I immediately gathered my friends and started a Bible study. I loved sharing the word and talking about Him, so eventually I went into missions. I told God I would be His girl. Eventually I got married to Clay, we spent more time in missions and then began having our precious children. God directed us to start a family ministry, because when we read scripture, we saw that children were a blessing, Jesus said, "Woe to the one who caused the least of these little ones to stumble," and we saw that Satan was battling for the souls, consciences, minds and hearts of children who would be the adults in the next generation.

I had so little instruction and support when I was raising my own children, and so I determined that if God blessed our following of what we thought were Biblical principles in our own children and if they responded to Him and to us, that we would spend the rest of our lives seeking to help other parents feel the support, instruction, encouragement and Biblical inspiration about how to raise a godly generation who loved and served God, in and through their own homes.

And that is how Whole Heart Ministries was born. This is why we write our books, do this blog, host conferences, and have leadership trainings in our home. We want to be a part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the world to build a godly legacy in families and homes for each generation.

We are praying that we can be a part of building an army of women who will start groups, reach out and train and encourage so many millions of women who want to be a godly mom, but who have not been taught how or do not have support systems. So, will you help us?

We are hosting 3 mom's conferences this year to train, inspire, encourage and instruct moms who can come to these conferences. But even if you cannot come to one of these, would you help us get the word out? We have often seen women attend from all over the world, and then return to their own cities and countries to start Mom Heart Groups. So, you can possibly help us reach women who are longing for support, who are in your own spere of influence, that you didn't even know would need this kind of training and conference.

And so, we are offering either $50 in whatever books or tapes or cd's you would like from Whole Heart Ministries, also listed on our side bar, or 1 free ticket to the conference of your choice in California, Colorado or Texas. (We are hoping to be back on the east coast again soon, but for many reasons, we had to limit this season to 3 conferences and the east coast hotel did not work out.)

Below is information about the conference. Would you help us reach other women by putting it on your facebook, your own blog, announce it to your Bible study or support group? We are also hosting Mom Heart Teas at each conference to help moms know how to start a group or Bible study in their own arena. At each conference you will hear stories and testimonies from 10 to 15 moms just like you--their struggles, their ideals, their stories and you will also hear from special speakers to help inspire and encourage you in your own journey as a mom.

THE HEARTSHAPING MOM - How to Open, Fill, and Hold Your Child’s Heart

Sally Clarkson (CO/CA/TX)

Your greatest desire as a mother is to win the heart of your child.Sally Clarkson (ITakeJoy.com) shares your passion and can help. By God’s design, your child’s heart is already turned to you, just as you are already designed by God to be a heartshaper. Sally will share her secrets, learned over 27 years of motherhood with four children, how to open and fill your child’s heart with grace and truth, and to hold it with love. This is life-learned, heartfelt biblical insight that will change you, and your children. Join Sally and her special guests Deb Weakly (Mom Heart Leader Team, CO/CA/TX),Courtney Joseph (WomenLivingWell.org, TX), Angela Perritt(GoodMorningGirls.org, CA/TX), and Ruth Schwenk (TheBetterMom.com, CO). It will be a weekend of fellowship, inspiration, and worship you won’t want to miss. We hope you can join us!

Deb Weakly (CO/CA/TX) Mom Heart Leader Team

Courtney Joseph (TX) WomenLivingWell.org

Angela Perritt (CA,TX) GoodMorningGirls.org

Ruth Schwenk (CO) TheBetterMom.com

Conference States & Dates:

COLORADO: January 20-21, Denver/Littleton, CO (Denver Marriott at Park Meadows, $79.00/night room rate) Click here: For MORE INFO | Click here: To REGISTER NOW for CO

CALIFORNIA: February 3-4, Irvine/OC, CA (Irvine Marriott, $99.00/night room rate, includes up to two full buffet breakfasts) Click here: For MORE INFO | Click here: To REGISTER NOW for CA

TEXAS: February 17-18, Irving/DFW, TX (Dallas Marriott Las Colinas, $84.00/night room rate, includes up to two full buffet breakfasts) Click here: For MORE INFO | Click here: To REGISTER NOW for TX

Conference Registration Cost:

Early: $89.00  |  Regular: $99.00 

Conference Schedule: Check-in for each of the events begins at 1:00PM on Friday. Afternoon workshops begin at 3:00PM and 4:00PM that afternoon. Guests are on their own for dinner. The first main conference session is 7:00-10:00PM that night. The second session is 8:45-11:45AM Saturday morning, followed by a lovely banquet luncheon. The final conference session is 2:00-4:30PM that afternoon. Sally will be the main speaker for all main sessions; other noted guest speakers will be announced soon.

PossibiliTea (Separate Event): We also plan to offer a Friday morning PossibiliTea at each of the conferences from 9:30AM-Noon. This special time with Sally will focus on personal insights about motherhood, Mom Heart Ministry, and how to be more involved. However, space will be very limited and attendance will require a separate $25.00 registration fee.

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If you go to this page, you can also find the banner and html to put on your own site, (like the one on my side bar) and you can find a printable brochure you can use to advertise to your group. Let  us know what all you do by leaving a comment for each way that you advertise this and we will put an entry for you for each task you complete to help us get the word out and to help us  advertise.  We will close the giveaway at midnight, December 11, so be sure to enter this giveaway by then. I so appreciate your help in this. We want to continue to see the Lord raise up, as I have said before, an army of women all over the world partnering together to hold up each others arms as we seek to raise up a godly generation for His glory. 

We have lots more plans up our sleeves. We want to partner with other writers, bloggers, speakers, leaders, international women to help establish strong communities of discipling moms all over the world. A heartfelt thanks to each of you who is supporting this work and who have donated time, money, and prayer. We are amazed to see what God is doing. Last year alone there were countless book clubs, over 400 groups studying one of our books, and meeting to encourage one another. I know God will continue to bless us as we "encourage one another and all the more as the day draws near." Hebrews

Thanks for helping us!

Below is another sample of a brochure you can copy onto your own page, or print out for your group, if you want to have a handout or announcement. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help.

PS We have had women attend these conferences from all over the world when they found out about it--so you never know who is in your spere of influence who just might be able to come and then fly back to their country and start a ministry! You could be the one to reach someone you didn't even know was interested! Thanks for praying and believing with me. We covet your prayers!

Putting a close to a surprisingly good day

Snow, slush, ice and 18 degrees greeted me as I crawled out of bed at 5:57 this morning. Familiar reluctance filled my heart. Why does is seem it always snows the day we have to be somewhere early when the highways are questionable and dangerous and too crowded? Oh, now I remember why I always want to move south for the winter--like the smart birds.

This was the morning Joy was to take her SAT's downtown Colorado Springs. What would normally be a 25-30 minute drive would now be almost an hour. Was it really ok to send my baby, my 16 year old little girl out on such questionable highways by herself with just one year of driving experience?

And so I quickly piled up with layers and jumped in my car to follow her to be sure she could make it out. And so, after trucks drove too fast, cars pushed us to drive faster than I felt was comfortable, with a truck pushing Joy's car and staying within 5 feet to let her know he was there--with me watching from behind, she made it and walked into the high school administering the test, literally the minute they were starting.

Adrenalin up from gripping the wheel, I tried to relax (South Colorado Springs didn't even have snow on the highway or main roads--we are just lucky in Monument and always get tons more snow because we are 2000 feet higher!)

Next, I was going to meet a young man that we had sort of adopted into our family 18 years ago in Texas. He has married and was now a father and we were going to catch up. Huevos Rancheros at a natural cafe in Manitou Springs warmed my tummy. I think it must have been 8 cups of coffee that we visited. So sweet to see how much the Lord has worked in the life of someone you have loved and watch grow up--so the day was already sparkling a bit more than it had begun.

Hilde, at Heritage Lace Shop, 2530 W. Colorado Ave-- everything blue on this shelf--my favorite!

Someone at my Bible study in my home last week had accidentally left a flyer in my living room about a Christmas buffet of samples at a small shop in Old Colorado City near Manitou Springs where I had breakfast. And so I searched for the shop and parked my car and went into a lovely, treasure-filled gift shop. Tea cups and tea pots, lace, crystal, table cloths, lovely feminine clothing, quilts, centerpieces--all sorts of European looking wares that I had grown to love when I was a missionary. A charming woman met me at the door and asked me if I needed some help. I immediately detected a beloved German accent, which I always listen for since my days as a missionary in Austria. We struck up a conversation and I got to hear her adventurous story about how she was able to start a gift shop many years before, and the details of how her husband and she had  opened shops. She went to market in New York City and learned how to pick lovely, quality items that delighted and filled homes with color. Somehow, we got to the question of how old she was--I was expecting her to be near to my age--and to my surprise, Hilde said she was 81. She was charming, fun, interesting, engaged and I decided I want to be her when I grow up--an unexpected delightful time and new friend. New friends near the crystal lovelies!

My Colorado friends, be sure to tell her hi for me and that you found out about her here as I want many people to see her wonderful store! Then a lovely walk downtown, a mug of foamy coffee, a hot oatmeal-butterscotch cookie, and home--where the roads had almost cleared up-- to a fire, Christmas lights, a few minutes alone with Christmas music and sparkling snow--and finally about 6 long distance phone calls catching up with sweet loved ones. I don't know what I expected of this day, but I found myself enjoying the sweet company of the people strewn along my path, heart-filling in ways I didn't know I needed. And now to a hot bath--a great ending to my Saturday. I hope you have such a Sabbath day tomorrow--one filled with surprises and friendship unexpected.

The seed bed of potential

Daniel Ridgway Knight

"Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. "'From this day on I will bless you." Haggai 2: 19

I love this picture--a woman surrounded by the beauty, the product of her life's cultivation, is such an encouragement to me for my own life. Part of the glory of women, in my mind, is that they have been throughout all the ages, civilizers, those who subdue, those who cause the garden to flourish. Wisdom is personified all the way through Proverbs as a woman. The older I have gotten, I seek to grow into this great role. Gardening is such a visual representation of the potential of a woman's life.

A field that lays fallow has endless potential for producing fruit, vegetables, flowers of every kind. If the soil has been prepared and fertilized and attended to, it has massive potential. Yet the potential lays dormant until the seeds or plants have been strategically place and planted into the soil.

This is a picture of all of life. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us when we become Christians. We, and our children, are made in the image of God. Intrinsic within our hearts, lives and souls is the capacity to display God's imprint to the world, but the potential lays dormant waiting for a gardener of the soul to cultivate it.

And so, I picture myself as a gardener of souls, in relationship to Him who gives me the power and strength through His spirit to be a part of His work in the world. First of my own soul. I must plant the seed of God's word, of truth, excellence, art, beauty, character, intellect, relational skills, vision and inspiration and water it daily with the grace of God by engaging with Him, watering the planting with faith--engaging my heart at every point, every moment with His perspective, His thoughts, His priority. I must bask in the sunshine of Jesus---living in His love, His redemption, His humility, His generous soul always reaching out and giving in compassion and redemption. Pulling the weeds of sin, and attitudes and hurts. Protecting from the storms of Satan and the world. All these things I must do to cultivate a beautiful harvest as I walk in the life of His power and reality in my life, through the seed of Himself that He planted there..

I invest deeply so that others may have the richness and productivity of His life and ways and truth and character to draw from my soul.

And then, I come to motherhood. I understand how broad my role is in planting the seeds of truth and faith and character in my own children's lives. Protecting them from the ravages of their own storms in a fallen, wicked world. Exposing them to the sunlight of Jesus in every way, every moment through out my day. Helping them to develop a strong root system of family, friends and Christian community during the winter seasons, and to water their souls with God's love, grace and hope, and teaching them to spread their plant in the direction of cultivating a life of faith, service, and giving as they yield from their souls eternal produce.

All this and more is waiting to be intentionally planted, cultivated, nurtured, but requires a wise and intentional gardener--willing to do the hard work it requires to bring about a great produce.

So, what are you planting? How intentional have you been about designing a garden of your own soul and your children? How are you protecting? Fertilizing? Weeding? Watering.

Such great potential lays dormant in our souls, but such a vast harvest is available if we engage in the wisdom and with submission and obedience  the First Gardener. There is such capacity for life--in Him and in His ways.

Live into the potential of your call to civilize and cultivate. When women become intentional about eternal issues, the whole world will be influenced by her grace and life.

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I have had so much help, so many blessings, such richness because of real live people coming alongside in the work of our own lives and my heart overflows with love for so many of you--even those I have not yet had the privilege of knowing face to face.

I want to acknowledge how very much I have been encouraged in my own life by so many of you. So many of you have given to me in words of life--(I was greatly encouraged yesterday and on many days before, by your comments, emails, phone calls, fb comments, tweets, letters. Every bit of your giving words of life to me have gone deeply into my soul.)

The investment of having friends work beside us for all of these years as we seek to cultivate our ministry and messages into the lives of other people--my soul is rich from so many of you investing love, time, prayer.I do not deserve but have been greatly blessed by each of you.

Our ministry could not exist or be alive today if it had not been for so many investing financially so that we could publish, do conferences, build messages, work with leaders.

I thank you all with all of my heart, as God put you in my own heart today. May He bless you abundantly with the fullness of Him--His grace, life, truth, power, redemption, and the reality of His presence and love.

PS The winner sof Aaron's books:

Heather Ertzberger Sara (who commented at 1:24!)

Thanks for entering.

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music........

My quiet time place this morning in my living room

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John 1:9

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”Luke 2:13-14

Celebrating is a part of God's nature. The crickets sing to God, the birds chirp to God, the sunrise and sunset sing of His glory, the stars declare His glory and beauty.

God was so excited to celebrate the incarnation of His son on earth, that He crafted and designed in his honor a chandelier in the heavenlies for this special occasion. Imagine a Father saying, "I love you so much, I will give you a star for your birthday, and then the wealthiest kings of this small globe called earth will bring riches untold for your birthday present. I have arranged the heavenly host to sing a cantata, filling the sky, just to celebrate this moment, and all the earth will hear of your birthday party throughout all the generations."

Those he chose as the audience were the very ones who took care of sheep, the very symbol of His son--those who probably had hearts most ready to engage in  worship,  because nightly they delighted in the  display of splendor strewn across their ceiling, with twinklings, flurries of comets, galaxies waxing eloquent to the rhythm of their creator's bidding. These who had eyes to see and hearts to worship became the attendees of His celebratory party.

And so, I desire to have such eyes--to see His glory in the natural course of my own life. To hear the melodies that daily display songs of praise in the creation He has made, to see His very fingerprints in the eyes and souls of the precious ones in my home.

And so, in His honor, I bring light into our own personal darkness where we also live in the fallen place, a palette of color into the humble outpost of our daily lives and worship, and we host non-stop melodies proclaiming this momentous occasion--the beginning of light into darkness, redemption of all sin and hurt and failure, the conquering of death through life, and the inception of light snuffing out all darkness.

A mother, the civilizer of life, the artist by His side as Wisdom, "a master workman, daily His delight." (Proverbs 8: 30)

There is a life and hope and energy in this celebrating. It brings all earthly struggles into perspective, a baby bringing life that would conquer all ills, calm all storms, wrest all evil powers, heal all wounds.

"And His name shall be called Wonderful,  Counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

And so my little room became a place of worship--just me and Him. And now my heart is filled for my day and all that it will bring, and it will spill over in all the moments of my day, for having been in His presence and celebrated one more time.

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PS Today is the last day to register for the Mom Heart Conference and receive a $10 coupon to the book table! Tell your friends!

http://www.wholeheart.org/our-events/

What's your secret? What do you hide from everyone else? and a giveaway

Edmund Blair Leighton

Probably all of us have secrets deep inside our hearts--and probably many people, like the man above, want to bear their heart to someone. Secrets can weigh heavy on your heart. Satan uses secrets to point his finger at our soul saying, "If only everyone else knew--they would be disappointed in you, they would reject you......You call yourself a Christian?!"

Voices inside of us can eat up energy, heart, time, feelings, emotions.

Yet, Jesus knows us and still loves us--he knows the selfishness, the failures, the insecurities--and still, he is so very willing to heal, to bring light and beauty our of our ashes.

My friend, Aaron Stern, has written an insightful book about this very subject. Aaron and his wife, Jossie, (also a dear friend!), took a group of 30 college students and built the group into one of the largest singles groups in the United States over a period of 10 years. The group is over 1000 people. And guess what, they heard a lot of secrets from countless people who carried these burdens deep inside and allowed their secrets to define themselves.

This wonderful book illuminates how to deal with all the secrets in our past, in our souls, that keep us from experiencing the freedom and grace God has to bring to each dark corner of our lives. Aaron is one of my family's favorite teachers and pastors. He generously offered to give away 2 of his books to my friends on this blog.

Here is Aaron's book, (also to be found on Amazon.com), and here is how he described his book: Is there something about you that you hope no one else ever finds out?

You're not alone. Everyone has secrets-hurts, abuses, bad habits, fears. Big or small, secrets can destroy you from the inside out. The good news is that confession is more powerful than secrets-or the fear that keeps you from telling them. Confession, accountability, trusting your inner life with another, is the only Biblical way to find restoration, healing, freedom and renewed life.

This truth is unpacked and developed in my new book, What's Your Secret?.  The topic of secrets isn't talked about enough and yet we see the effects of them almost every day played out on news, and in the personal lives of people all around us. Confession is easy to avoid but it is an important practice for believers to model, and for parents to practice in their families and with their children. Children need to understand this vital habit, so that they do not hide from God, and  before their own secrets take root.

What's Your Secret?: freedom through confession is now available. It is a must read for parents and young people alike.

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If you would like to win one of these books, please leave a comment on my blog, post it on facebook, or leave a comment on Aaron's blog, http://aaronstern.typepad.com/

Then let me know what you did--an entry for each comment or fb or twitter  connect. Entries will be closed at midnight, November 29! You will love this book!

I'm just not that important

Georgios Jakobides The First Steps

O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.

Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. Psalm 131

I have noticed that when I am too busy and have taken responsibilities on my shoulders that only God can carry, I become harsher. When I am too busy and have overcommitted, I lose a love the things that are normally important to me.  I care less for the lost; have little patience for my children; tend to see people as irritating (What was that driver in that car thinking? Can't believe anyone would drive that way! or "That lady was soooooo slow in the check out line at Walmart!) God is a distant thought that I glance toward with guilt thinking He must be disappointed with me because I just haven't had time for Him, but I have just been so busy.........

Fretting is also a part--Fretting about money, life, family, children, church, ministry, duties, Christmas, gifts, housework, burdens--fretting, fretting--taking so much energy, so much thought life---and the Psalms say, "Fret not, it leads only to evil doing." (Psalm 37:8)

And then I tend to become cynical. "I do so much, and there is no one to help." And of course, "If I don't do it or take responsibility, no one else will."

It is so easy to begin to live a works oriented life, and then to think without me, things will fall apart. Then I become weary. Then I say, "Lord, don't you care that I am drowning?!" or "Tell Mary to come in here. I am doing all the work myself!"

God is not biting His nails wondering if I am going to get it all done. He is not the great abuser in heaven just waiting to give me more than I can handle. And so, slowly, I have had to learn, if I am consistently feeling too much stress, too much weight on my shoulders, I have not given it to Him and or, I am attempting to do things that He has never asked or expected me to do.

Jesus did not go into the world Himself. He stayed local, humble, quiet, and yet His message, in God's hands, changed the world.

"I am humble and meek. Learn from me." Again, I learn from this verse.

If He was humble and not in a hurry and still accomplished God's will--and not all the blind and sick were healed, then I can trust these mysteries into His hands.

A good father would not expect his little child to carry the load. He would carry the load and the fragile child.

I find I have so much on my plate to do, that the only thing I can do is re-access; cut back; only focus on the agenda that He has set.

Burning out

I am old enough to have lived through so many women who burned out--in ministry, in homeschooling, in jobs, in ideals---burn, burn, burn and then all that is left is ashes. It is a cultural value to be busy and to justify ourselves by our activities.

Last Spring, I met with a young woman. She said, as many young women have said, "Sally, God is just opening so many doors for me, I just have to be a good steward of my opportunities." (as her exhausted teen daughter was pushing her toddler in a stroller behind her, and complaining that her mom just never had time for her.) This happens to me a lot--young women who have stars in their eyes from money that can be made, audiences that can be found, numbers that can build up.

I have never had more opportunities come my way as now, but I do not like what I see going on in my heart and soul,  and so, I am convicted that I need to cut back. I am pulling back from expectations. Pulling back from stress. And simplifying.

He needs to be at my center. I need to have peace and quiet in my soul. I can say "no!" no matter how many people there are who seem to need me, so that I can still and quiet my soul. 'When I wait on Him, I see His power, His provision, His answers--always so much better than me, tiny, little me, trying to play the role of God, when all He wanted me to do was to seek Him, rest in Him and listen to His voice.

So many times the examples He left me--David and Goliath; Joshua marching around a wall; a Jewish nation born from a single child; the fish and the loaves, the oil that was enough every day to make one more loaf.

I am a baby to God, his toddler, "like a weaned child, I will not involve myself in things too difficult for me."

God is in control. He does not want to abuse me. He does not want me to be neurotic and angry. He wants me to be at peace--sleeping in the boat in the midst of the storm,  because I am "leaning on my Father's strong arms."

And so, I am waiting on Him before I venture out--the opportunities will always be there, but now is a good time to pace myself, to still my soul, to seek to live more simply, to say yes to my God-given priorities and no to all that will take me away. I could do lots more, but then I would become crazy and grumpy and tight and hard to live with, and living by my own flesh and striving and works--and I cannot hold His hand and behave in such a manner all at the same time.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.Psalm 62: 1

So, today, on this very busy day, I know that my soul will only find rest in Him--His will, His way!

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Some of these issues, we will ponder together, How can I make it through this journey of motherhood with grace--is it possible?

3 Friends are giving away a ticket to the mom's conference--be sure to look at their blogs today:

http://womenlivingwell.org (Courtney Joseph--my sweet, encouraging friend.)

http://www.thebettermom.com(Always inspiring, dear friend, Ruth Schwenk)

http://goodmorninggirls.org (Angela Perritt--my gentle, godly friend)

All three will be speaking this year at our conferences. Hope you can come. (For more information, look at button on our sidebar!)

A Little peaceful day, tucked in the middle of Life

Some days you just have to take time to enjoy life and put all the duties away for another day. Such is my day today. I will decorate, sip lots of coffee and tea, depending on time of day, eat too many calories and relax and take it all in. Today, I am determined to open my eyes to the color and my sweet ones, as I just need a day to move slowly instead of one more stressful, fast day.

The above stocking is one my mama made me so many years ago. She is not a seamstress but tried her hand at special projects. She collected buttons and charms from gum ball machines and made all of us kids a stocking, my 2 brothers and I,  hand beaded with all these treasures she had collected.

I am putting away all the Fall decorations. Saturday, after Thanksgiving is always the time our family decorates for Christmas.

Today, I will foster holiday love in our home as we all love our memories of Christmas together so much. I think there is something in the way we celebrate all together and make family recipes and sing and give gifts that captures a little bit of what heaven will be like--as our children long for it and enjoy the "togetherness" we have shared for so long and now have to wait to enjoy, when everyone can come home. Many I know love the thought of Christmas and family and home. Must be something of the closeness and love we will feel celebrating the love, intimacy and beauty of Christ when we are all together with Him in heaven. Love, warmth, beauty, pleasure, purpose all wrapped together in one package.

This year, Joel, Joy and I are the main cast with Clay observing and telling us what is straight and symmetrical. No lifting for him. We bought our tree and three wreaths. We can never have enough wreaths--as I use them at the front door, but also for the center of our coffee tables as well as my dining table. Makes for a very pine-filled home, and it is pretty natural with greenery all around.

We started out with butterscotch banana bread (a holiday treat from years past), eggs, homemade hash browns from red potatoes, and bacon. Made Joel a raspberry mocha coffee and Joy a chocolate mocha. We don't have this very often, but I had to bribe great work ethic and attitudes out of my work crew, as I was losing Joy at noon to dress rehearsal for Sense and Sensibility.

I probably have about 15 large plastic boxes full of Christmas stuff I have collected over the years, but I have gotten simpler each year and leave most of them in the basement storage. We used an artificial tree for years, but "natural everything" goes better with my emerging self and with Colorado. So, the past 5 years, we go out and choose our family tree.

I have arranged so many traditions for so long that we all know where things go without much thought. I promise pictures soon, but I am so comfy on my overstuffed chair, I do not want to get up to take pics!

The music has filled the house with Josh Groben's Christmas album, an old Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, and Michael Card. Andrew Peterson and others will be out soon, with the traditional carols, and the old Majesty of Christmas album. We always have music going. And Joel and Joy have already been pounding out and singing some carols on the piano, while decorating.

Joel worked on the tree and red beads and lights while Joy and I each decorated one of our dining tables (one in the kitchen nook and one in the dining room.) One is with small, snow covered houses and greenery. The other formal with a cherished beaded table runner and candles, cranberries, pine cones, and wreath, and gold chargers.

Then came the stockings mantle in the living room, and the one in our den, with Swedish Dolls and greenery and a tall camel from the middle east; my grandma's hand made creche ceramic scene, filling a hall hutch; a collection of tiny creche scenes from Poland collected long ago. My Santa cookie jar from my own childhood. Candles everywhere. Christmas books out everywhere--on all tables, fire places, coffee tables, and many will be read aloud in the evenings.

Time for a break: Lunch, homemade whole wheat rolls heated to steaming hot with thin slices of turkey, mayonaise and cranberry sauce spread generously.

Now, for a little time of personal reading all alone in Sarah's room, with music and candles lit, an exciting feeling of hiding away, for delicious stolen moments to read, think, journal and ponder what God has been teaching me the past few days. It is beautiful and clean and artsy and colorful in her room and I still feel close to her being there, so will spend some moments here every day till she comes home. (So fun to see her for 2 days this week in the mountains, but of course not enough.)

Snowball cookies, the first of the season, will accompany our tea time today.

And then more straightening and putting boxes away and a happy heart to see the house peaceful and filled with the colors and smells of Christmas.

The Gift of a Spirit-filled Mama

Last Year's Table--this year, I will be in a retreat center, celebrating with new friends and family!

I am off for a 5 hour drive with Joel and Joy to Pagosa Springs, Co, where we will join Sarah and other families for a Thanksgiving celebration at a Summit Ministries Retreat. I haven't seen her in several months, so can't wait to talk and hug and hear all the adventures she has had. Tonight, I will make 110 homemade rolls to share at the feast tomorrow. Sweet Clay will be home resting, as 5 hours is a lot for a tender back to bear, but we will be thanking God for him!

I was thinking this morning about how to prepare myself for this wonderful holiday weekend. I love Thanksgiving and enjoy the feast. But sometimes with all the cooking and work and family and ideals flying about, we can find ourselves in the midst of a lot of extra stress. I wish I had known earlier in my life that holidays can be so delightful and so stressful. Children have more sugar, less sleep, have to share more, are in unexpected places, and so the potential for disaster is higher. Knowing this, the best way to arm ourselves is by clothing ourselves with the Holy Spirit and give them the gift of a Spirit-filled mom!

Galatians 5:22 "And the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control!"

So today, as I leave, I am going to mentally and spiritually clothe myself with:

Love--seeking to love, affirm, look at my sweet ones with eyes of gratefulness that they are my beloved

Joy--I am so blessed. God is good. He is with us. I will choose to be joyful in what He has provided

Peace--Peace will rule my inside no matter what happens, spills, fusses, pettiness, I will keep peace and give peace in every situation

Patience--If I choose to exercise my patience in every situation and prepare my heart to be patient in every situation, I will bring the music of God's heart to the atmosphere of our holiday--no matter who wants to destroy the harmony.

Kindness--Giving a kind spirit to each person, seeing their heart needs, serving them, will bring a spirit of His presence to my day.

Goodness--Because He is good, I will rejoice and be glad in the reality of His promises and in His willingness to provide

Gentleness--on a day heightened with emotion and expectations, I will bring Jesus' gentleness to each person, each moment. A gentle answer turns away wrath--today is not a time for confrontation or arguing--gentleness will soothe tired bodies

Faithfulness--I will be faithful to serve all in my wake--to do the hard work of cooking, washing, serving, that others might know the joy of celebration and beauty that comes from my heart of gratefulness to God for His faithfulness.

Self-control--I will also be a little more weary today. I will choose to control my spirit, my tongue, my attitudes, my complaining and give to God my worship through my spirit-controlled attitudes and heart. My thanksgiving will be through choosing to obey and submit my heart to Him, my precious Lord.

The voice of God was calling

I was sitting inside our den this morning, waiting for the tea kettle to boil, and checking my computer, when God called out to me. He had painted the sky for me and strewn cotton ball clouds all about between the lovely pinks and blues for my delight. I crept out on the porch with our beloved golden retriever and I listened.

He spoke to me of His power, His love, His presence, His desire to guide my life. I sat in the cool breezes and listened. I might have missed this moment if my ears were not attuned to listen and my eyes had not looked up to see Him.

Oh, may I listen attentively, look fervently, wait for you. To think that the God who threw the stars into their place would care that I was with Him. What an amazing, humble, gentle, generous God you are. May you know my love and praise of you this day and may I keep hearing you, listening to you, seeing your fingerprints in my life all day long in the midst of my very busy moments. I love you, sweet Father.

"They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." Genesis 3:8

Please, Lord, may I never hide from you when you are looking for my companionship.

Today, I am smiling in my heart

First, as a Thanksgiving gift, I wanted to let you know, I will post a cinnamon roll recipe at the bottom because I will be making some today to celebrate Joel coming home tonight. Oh, I am as excited as a little girl. Can't wait to hug his neck. Love him so and find him to be a worthy best of friends.

Today, I awakened before the sun was up, tiptoed downstairs, made my Yorkshire tea, lit 5 candles in Sarah's room, (when I am in her room while she is gone, it makes me feel nearer to her), and read verses about how God forgives me--as far as the east is from the west--so far has he removed my sin from me. And also a dimly burning wick, He will not extinguish. He is so generous in His humble love toward me. I feel accepted, even though he knows my limitations. Oh, how grateful for His forgiveness.

Then, I read a chapter from a wonderful book, I highly recommend, The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan.The chapter I read today encouraged me to be fully alive to the moment, not to hurry, but to rest, to open my eyes to see. I prayed and worshipped and then prayed that my children would open their hearts and eyes to Him today. Oh, let them see you and your beauty and love and please let them always worship.

Joy Forney and me at Relevant, I felt our spirits were so  kindred on multiple levels and fell in love with Joy.

Then, I opened my email and read a sweet, generous note of love from Joy Forney, and read her amazingly encouraging post, and felt so very grateful. Somehow, Clay and I have lived our lives in secret, when no one but God was looking, and no one but Him approved. And then we wrote from our hearts the secrets He was teaching, somehow, God used the magic of words of our little lives to encourage. Her blog post meant so much to me to see how He multiplies our meager faithfulness, as we give to Him the fish and loaves of our lives. I am humbled and ever so grateful.  And she is giving away 3 of our books--so you won't want to miss this.

And then, as I sat here, I heard soft, melodies sifting through the wall between me  in Sarah's room and Joy's bed where she was waking up and humming a beautiful song. It was a sort of fairy moment listening secretly to her sweet voice when she didn't know I was here.

And so, I am starting this Monday with a smile in my soul and am ever so grateful for His generous blessings of sweet early morning moments.

Here is the recipe! Enjoy. (This is not my original recipe that I will share some day--but one I use when I am in a hurry lately and very delicious!)

Sally's Holiday Cinnamon Rolls!

Ingredients

1. 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast or 2 Tablespoons of bulk yeast (I use the bulk that I buy at Sam's--you don't have to mix it in hot water, and it almost always rises. If your yeast water does not rise, it is not fresh--throw it out as your rolls will not rise if you use this flat yeast!)
2. 1 3/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3. 1/2 cup white sugar or 1/3 cup maple syrup for sweetening (I use the brown turbinado sugar.)
4. 1 teaspoon sea salt (or regular salt)
5. 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
6. 1 egg, beaten
7. 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
8. 2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
9.   1/2 to 1  Stick butter for spreading
10.   Brown sugar to taste, cinnamon sugar to taste

 Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Mix sugar, salt, 1/4 cup melted butter, egg, and whole wheat flour into yeast mixture. Stir in all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto a well floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. (I just put my dough hooks on my Bosch mixer and let the dough mix for 5 minutes.) Lightly oil a large bowl, place dough in bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
3. Punch down the dough and then roll it out into an oblong rectangle until it is about a quarter inch thick--depending on the thickness you prefer. 
4. spread 1/2 stick to 1 stick butter (1/4 to 1/2 cup) over the rectangle. Sprinkle dark brown sugar evenly over rectangle as thick or as lightly as you prefer. Next sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over dough (I mix one spoonful of cinnamon to 6 teaspoons of sugar, mix it and put it in a parmesan cheese glass shaker, and use it all the time on toast.) Sprinkle the sugar mixture lightly or heavily, depending on how much sweetener you would like on your rolls--we like ours with a rich cinnamon flavor, so I put a lot!
5. Roll the rectangle of dough as tightly as possible from the long side toward the top of the dough. Cut rolls at about 1 to 1/2 inches and place into a 9x13 baking pan or jelly roll pan. Rolls can be touching on the sides. Allow them to double in size. Preheat oven to 350.
6. Bake in 350 oven for 15 to 18 minutes until slightly brown. (time will differ according to your altitude--I live at 7300 feet and so my baking and timing is a little different from those who live in lower elevations--so watch the rolls and don’t let them get too brown.)

 Frosting: After cooled, make a frosting of 1 stick softened butter, 1to 2 cups of   powdered sugar, sprinkled into the mix a little at a time, 1 1/2 t. of vanilla, and 1-2 tablespoons of milk, a little at a time as you want the frosting to be thick--you may add a little more milk if you want, but not too much or it will be to wet. Mix until smooth. (I just add this and that until it looks right--sorry I am not more exact!) Frost each roll and sprinkle either a little cinnamon or red sprinkles to make them prettier! 

 Enjoy! and Happy Monday!