Vines and Branches

Saturday was chicken day...
We turned their house and built a fence so they could go in and out as they wanted.

But as we did that, I started clearing the brush in the woods where the fence needed to go.  It turned into an all day project.  Which I enjoyed.  Husband and Tripp had to leave for ball practice and Josie went on a girl day with my mom. 

So if you follow my instagram you would have seen my post about my progress...

God just spoke such insite! Here are my posts...Happy Monday, Jenn

 I have been working and clearing all morning. Hating these vines!! And then God spoke. Vines and branches. Isn't this what we are supposed to look like. So intermingled with God that you can't which is which. Not a mess, but jumbled up goodness!! I think I will stop clearing now. #formanfarm #vinesandbranches

Ok so God is preaching today! And I haven't stopped clearing yet. A new thought....we can't have new growth if the dead junk is chocking out what is trying to grow. Do you see the new green starting to bud?? Clear the dead junk in your life God says. Let the new thrive!! #goodpreaching#formanfarm

The Balance of Wearing Many Hats

There is no hiding it....When you are a momma and you work a full time job - its inevitable...You become the hat juggler. The trick is how to do it. And I am not certain I know anyone who can tell you how that is done.  So really this post is just another momma venting about how to juggle it all.

First and foremost, its no secret, those who are closest to us see the ugliest side of us. Right!?

My sweet man, how do I make sure he is taken care of on a daily basis?  I remember the days I could actually cook a great meal. But now with more demands in our home, it seems as though little things like cooking a good meal gets pushed to the side. Second grade homework, feeding all the animals, working out, etc, trumps a home cooked meal..Unless you call chicken finger salad home cooked.

How can we be all we can out places of employment? 
I love my job! That's where I give back to my community. Where I feel I make a difference for my county.

And a great mom? Making sure that homework is done the best way possible and we are actually teaching our babes something in midst.. To make sure I am not just sending my sweet littles to schools, but I am an active parent. That I attend their school parties and field trips.

How do we make sure that we aren't just living day in and day out barking orders at our kiddos about cleaning their rooms and picking up their toys, but we are actually teaching them life lessons about being responsible?

And the most important thing in my life is my quiet time..my study time...and truly I have learned to just fit it in all through my day.  There have been seasons in my life where I can stay on track and set aside time in the morning and start my day with studying and prayer. But I always always end with my devotions and prayer, no matter what.

So really the mix of life right now is just me, a momma, a wife, a worker, a lover of God, a wanna be farmer, runner, daughter, sister,  aunt, friend, and whatever else is leftover...

Unwelcome Guest

There is a story I read.

Not a fictional story. But a mama who is battling cancer..What a remarkable woman of God! http://mundanefaithfulness.com

My sweet love said something last night to me that was profound!!

And something that Kara said in her post today that was so awesome...We don't have to overcome something that God has already conquered...But I guess sometimes we still try to fix it ourselves, right?

 "There is much that wants to steal our joy, rob us of today- for me it’s cancer, what is it for you? These unwelcome guests- well, they exist, pretending they don’t is simply a lie. How do we meet the hard in our story, live it honestly, then head out into life and live? Live in the grace of the greatest story ever told. And guess what, it wasn’t just a story. It was the truth."

Gosh I love this!! Walk in this! God meets your hard with his grace!

Who are you?

Do you ever search for someone that has been through a similar situation in life that you can talk to....To see how they have handled it, how God saw them through, how they grew in their walk with the Lord, or just someone that has had some similar experiences/pain. I love to research people.  I love people and what makes them do the things they do...Even though God calls us to Him-he is closer than a brother- and he wants us to come to Him with our questions, doubts, fears, anxiety...Sometimes you need a friend to hold your hand and say " I have walked that mile.  Its hard but God will see you through. " and to even give you sound Biblical advice (even though it may not be what we want to hear).....

Well, being that I am a lover of what makes people act and think the way they do...I have had to look in the mirror and discover what makes me think and act the way I do...What makes me tick?  What has caused my failures and accomplishments. While I can't tell you exactly the reason why we are pushed to the brink of some things we do, I do know that whatever I am doing in my life at that moment reflects my walk with God. What we do as Christians reflects two things- Good Fruit or Bad Fruit.  If my fruit is rotten, my attitude is probably rotten as well! God is teaching me that everyday. What am I leaning on Him for, or am I using my own judgment and decision make skills (or lack of) to make decisions for me.  I can guarantee that you if you are not spending time in fellowship with God, then you probably are not making very good decisions about  your life, friends, marriage, kids, job, etc....I know from experience.  Hard pill to swallow.

No one likes correction or reprove. We don't like to discipline our children but it has to be done or they will not grow up with the morals they need to survive this sinful world.  Therefore, God has to refine, discipline, or take me down a few notches if I will ever live the life he ordained for me.  A life of peace and joy. Contentment, harmony, love, - all of the good things from God.

I am so thankful I get to do life with this man. He encourages me.  He gets me. Loves me like crazy and tries unselfishly to make me happy.

I am also thankful for many others. Their wisdom and knowledge. Their life experience to help others and their willingness to allow people into their lives to motivate, encourage, push forward.

I am also thankful for this lady.  I don't know her personally and yet we do not share the same struggles.  We are both the same in that we need God's grace! We need him to meet us when we struggle or when we are down. How awesome is the testimony of a lady who suffers, but yet she only wants to leave a mark on this earth as a servant of Jesus.  Mundane Faithfulness

I encourage people to seek out God's unfailing love.  While we do not ever deserve another thing from our God, he loves his children and wants us to be blesses. He loves me and the sinful person I am. How awesome is that as though our sins are like dirty rags, He still died for us.

With all of that said. I hope today if you are reading that you will examine what makes you the person you are. Is it satisfying or does it leave you empty? 

Jenn

Who Am I?

I laid in bed last night..and thought...Who am I? I couldn't go to sleep on this New Years Day.  Restless. Thoughts moved in. I believe God put this question on my heart as I prepare for a new year.

And my answer is....
I am a child of the one true God, a sinner redeemed and saved by grace. Worshipper, follower, servant, disciple,
I am a wife to a wonderful, compassionate, loving, handsome hunky husband. At one time I don't think he was very compassionate.  At one time, we didn't know how to love...God has worked in us both. So we have become communicators and forgivers. We are team mates, companions, best friends. He is my life partner. God has a purpose for us both! How exciting!!
I am a mother to two very lively, spunky, personable, fun kids.  And they know God. And I want them to know Him deeply. So I am a shepherd, teacher, mentor, disciplinary.
I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, employee, niece, aunt, cousin.
I am a sinner. Who has stumbled. Who has fallen. But God has lifted me up. Forgiven. And washes me white as snow. Behold all things are new. And in the midst of the hard, the turmoil, the dark and gray, God reveals himself clearly. He says he will never leave or forsake us. And he proves himself time and again. His promises never falter. He stands true. So its not about who I am.  Its about Who God is...thru me. And that's my new years determination for 2014. I told my awesome husband, its not really a resolution as we discussed the new year, but rather a declaration for our family. I want this year to be more intentional and more on purpose for God. Its not about me and my wants. Its about God. And then God confirmed it two of my devotions...back to back...Here are the verses!

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

^18-21 Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth. (The Message)

 

Romans 12:1-2

12 ^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (The Message)

 

I won't waste another year.  I have an important job to do.  If you are a mother or father, friend, husband, wife, etc...So do you!

Happy New Year

Jenn

 

 

What do Formans do?

Most mornings before I drop Josie off to her big girl school, as Tripp calls it, I run the spill. And she gets tired of it...

But I don't care.

There is power in the tongue. I want her to get that from an early start.  And even though we may have rough mornings, I still have to leave her with happy words.

Years ago, a mentor of mine asked me if my family had a mission statement?!? What? huh?  I am just trying at that point to figure out life and what being a mom is all about... So the obvious answer was no. But I loved the concept.  I pondered, tried to come up with something, googled, read blogs, and nothing!

And then like a light switch...FORMAN! My sorta-mission statement was our name.  At the time Josie was a baby and Tripp was not even born.  So was not really even able to use it much at that point....But I loved it!!

I love that it represents our home and it is something that we have to strive for everyday. And no we don't always live up to this....  So as we pull into school, I ask Josie, "What do Forman's do?"  Now I have had to put these on 1st grader terms and as she gets older they will change a bit...

The F is interchangeable at this point as well...She tells me, Friendly(Forgiving, Faithful), Obedient, Respectful, Mannerly, Affirming (nice on Josie's level), Neighborbly (we help our friends)....

And then I proceed to tell her that Jesus lives in her heart and we are Christians so we have to act like Christians.  I love you Josie, have a good/great fun day!!

You think by the time she is a senior she will be tired of this speech?

He Restores My Soul

So as I have thought alot here recently about the last year, what I have accomplished, what I didn't accomplish, what was meaningful, what changes were made in my life (either bad or good), and how I want 2009 to be soooo different ----God has really gotten my attention---and it has really gone even deeper than the last year. On January 18th I will be turning 29...therefore making this my last year in my twenties, I know, tear, such a sad time. Ok ok, so moving on and back to my point I have started thinking about all the things I have accomplished, or not, in my twenties. AND I only have one more year to go out with a BANG! I am going to say that this past year has not been the best one of my life spirtually--WOW, ok i said it! There have been times in my life that I have definetely been alot closer to God and appreciated him and our relationship more. This year together has not been good, therefore making me a nut case!

My daughter will be 18mo. on Saturday and I have wasted so much time not being the mother I thought I always would be. JJ and I will be married 7 years in April, and this past year, behind MY rose colored glasses, has been the absolute pits for me. I have made MYSELF miserable and everyone around me. I think I stole my own joy. So many times in life we tend to blame satan, but the problem is actually just us being selfish. I guess as I look back I should have prayed with Josie more and maybe treated JJ with the respect that he deserves.

Our Life Discovery class went to see Fire Proof one Sunday after church and of course I cried my eyes out. It takes alot to make me cry these days. I have let my heart get rather hard in the last few years. I guess after being told not to be a doormat for so long, you tend to become callused and start losing emotion. GOD WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR TEARS!!! Oh how I pray that they will come back. Back to the movie, after going to the movie, our church decided that we would start the Love Dare book on Sunday nights. YAY!!! Something that will make my husband change his ways and see how wonderful I am! Study me, study me!

XXXX wrong! I was way off base, did God ever jerk a knot in me!!!! This is the hardest book ever! The very first dare in the book is patience. Well if you know anything about me, I am the one who stands at the microwave and cuts it off with 5 seconds left to go. NOT patient. I could barely move past the first dare because every day, and still learning today, to shut my smart mouth and be kind. Maybe JJ was not as selfish as I thought. Maybe all of this time that I thought he was the problem and and after all of the bitterness I was building up inside was because of me reacting in an unGoldy manner. Oh did I mention, I hold on to things, begrudgingly, and don't talk about them.

So with all of that said, I am sure I left out something or said too much, I love my husband so much, he is the absolute perfect man for me and the one God wanted me to be with! I am so thankful to him for all that he does.

I am so amazed by our beautiful daughter! Sometimes I think about how awesome she is! I mean truly awesome. She is such a funny little person and cracks me up constantly. She can put a smile on my face, when I am in the worst mood. She has made me a better person already, but now I will strive even harder to be the example I need to be, not only for her, but for my sanity and those around me.

To go back to my title, I was reading a devotional last night about restoration because I am need of true restoration. I want my joy returned. But God is also going to nourish my soul back to health! Life gets so fast paced and we get so lazy. We quit making time for God like we should. That is were it begins. Just reading a verse or two a night just doens't cut it. You have to really dig deep and spend time with God if you want Him to show up in your life.