Unfailing Love

"For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

Psalm 57:10

Choose Love

"Above all that is happening to you today, choose love. Love embraces. Love assumes the best. Love dares to hold to truth even when it’s hard. Love is a good gift to offer.

Love is a decision we make because it so beautifully reflects what Jesus has told us to do. To be. To exude. To those who love us and to those who don’t.”

- Lysa TerKeurst

MONKEYSTORY #725

I was dancing like a crazy Mama this morning to the Pharrell Williams' Happy song this morning in the kitchen.
The littlest monkey says: "Mommy? When can I grow up?"
I reply...."Someday...soon enough sweetie...why do you ask?"
She replies: "Because, I want to grow up so I can be a Mommy just like you."

And it's in that breathtaking, heart stopping moment that God reminds me of this:

No matter how many times, we as Mamas, feel we have messed up one too many times...
we've lost our patience, we yelled, we got frustrated, we didn't take enough time during the day to stop and listen or cuddle....whatever it may be.....THERE IS GRACE FOR US. And that grace never runs out.

We are human....and though we have to be superwomen ALOT of days.....there is grace for the times we mess it up. And these littles have super powers of their own called QUICK FORGIVENESS. (that we adults need take to take better notes on)

So dance in your kitchens Mamas!!! (There is something magical that happens I promise you!)
Be silly!! Laugh!!! SMILE OFTEN!!! And don't be too hard on yourself. You've got this! I've got this! Because there will always be GRACE ENOUGH for all of us! Love and parenting is a wild and messy thing....but it's one of the most rewarding and amazing adventures I have ever embarked upon :)

You Make Us Brave

You are the FAITH beyond a simple step, a wild LEAP.. You are the place where fear is powerless & LOVE remains the VICTOR You are the unshakeable YES that our spirits sing of.. With COURAGE we step towards the unknown & not away from it.. We breathe in HOPE & exhale doubt-- moving PAST fear into FREEDOM.. Moment by MOMENT we listen for YOUR voice & learn to RESPOND.. We are FREE to risk because NO pain can unravel YOUR LOVE for us.. Unafraid of failure, we are determined to TRUST You MORE THAN our OWN UNDERSTANDING .. YOU ARE as GOOD as you say you are:; and you make us BRAVE!!!
- bethel music

Last Word

When you feel like the whole world is against you....remember this...they don't get the last word.

God does. He has the last word about your life. And guess what? He says nothing but good about you! You are amazing....you are courageous...you are a mighty warrior....you are important....you are special....you are talented....you are loved. Forget what they say or whoever it is that is speaking negativity into your life right now. 

The last word belongs to God. 

And in the end...that's really all that matters. 

Now go shine....the world needs YOU .....your sparkle and your smile!

MONKEYSTORY #724

Papa Monkey and Ellie were in the kitchen tonight.....she asked a question about having a
boyfriend. Wish I woulda had the video camera out for what happened next.
He started singing to the tune of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman":

Papa Monkey: "If you have a boyfriend....before you turn 16....I will have to shoot him....right between the eeeeeeeeeyes....."

Ellie: (with huge eyes) "Daddy!!! For real???"

Papa Monkey: (trying to keep a straight face) "You may not have a boyfriend....before you turn 16....so don't even think of bringing one home....not at all....or it will be so baaaaaaaaaaad!"

Ellie: "Really Daddy......all you have is a marshmellow gun!"

Love and Yoga Pants

And at the end of the day after homeschooling, teaching piano, cleaning the kitchen 3 times after making and serving 3 meals, picking up endless socks, undies, barbies, leggos, pretzel sticks, dirty kleenex, washing, drying, folding laundry, cleaning pee off toilet seats 500 times, giving showers, breaking up monkey spats, cuddling and tucking into bed, exercising.......and the man tells her: "Honey, you look so good in yoga pants." Well it's amazing....how that one phrase can make her feel like superwoman.....the most beautiful mama and wife in the whole world...that is called LOVE. LOVE can do powerful things. It can move mountains....and make an ordinary woman feel extraordinary in one short moment. 

Thank you Jason Strough.....for loving me always...even in my yoga pants