autumn tree

                                  every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree

                                                                      - emily bronte

narrower not smaller

Being a mom is a gift and such an important role. We all know that. There are plenty of days though, in the midst of daily life when I can forget that. I can feel lonely, feel like a failure as a mom, and it is easy to listen to the lie Satan whispers to me...this job of motherhood isn't important.  It is also easy to feel that my sphere of influence for Christ is minimal or even non existent because I'm "stuck" at home...but that's a lie. I am thankful in times of doubt, Christ brings us encouragement...even before we ask for it. 

 I love this word from Elizabeth Griffin.

"When I became a mom, my life got really narrow. But I believe narrow isn't small. Even though my life is narrower than it was before, God's calling for my life isn't smaller." 

As we start a new week, I hope this encourages you as it has me! 

Happy Monday! 

Love,

Tracy

enough to do the impossible

"Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

         Matthew 17:20, The Message

This kind of faith moves mountains and makes all things possible. At times we may feel that we have great faith; at other times we may feel that our faith is suffering. In the end, however, if even that suffering faith is in God, then it is enough to do the impossible!

- God's Promises, YouVersion plan

I needed this reminder today. I can take this scripture in Matthew, twist it and easily make it all about me. I make it about my performance or level of faith. The Bible is not about me and my performance, it is about Christ and his. It is not about the depth of my faith, it is about the one in whom I put my faith. 

Happy Wednesday! 

Love

Tracy 

a good book and a few things

I have really enjoyed reading Brooke McGlothlin's new ebook, How to Control Your Emotions So they don't control you. As a mom, I have blown it before... I've been angry and frustrated with my children and have acted out from that emotionally negative place.  I have let my emotions control me instead of the other way around. I think it is easy to feel like you're alone and to feel like a failure in those moments. In her book, Brooke shares her own personal struggles with her emotions and reminds us that we are not alone, but actually in a pretty common battle. She uses Biblical truth to point us toward God and toward his grace and power that can help us as we submit our emotions to him. 

I highly encourage you to read this.  It's only five chapters and is available for $3.99 right now.   

This song. 

Jessi from Naptime Diaries created this free printable  from the song, Ocean. A good reminder to have hanging on my wall.

We went on our first family vacation as  five last week.  We had a great time at the beach.  Jonathan wasn't so sure of the ocean at first, but by the end of the long weekend he was riding the waves like a pro (on Dad's back)!

Love
Tracy

the birthday boy

This sweet boy is 4 today. Happy birthday, Jonathan! We love you! 

everyday prayers

“Because of you, terror is terrified. Indeed, because of you, one day there will be no terror or tears. There will be no more brokenness or barrenness, no more heartaches or even heartburn, no more human trafficking or even human tooth decay, no more war or even aggravation, no more evil or even envy, no more poverty or even pouting, and no more “not yet,” “not enough,” or “not now.”

Our labors in you, King Jesus, are not in vain. Because of you we can, and must, live as peacemakers, sowing the peace of the gospel of the kingdom, with the absolute assurance that a harvest of righteousness is being raised and will be reaped.

We praise you that your name is Redeemer, Reconciler, and Restorer. We cry out loud, “Maranatha!” Come, Lord Jesus, come! Until that day, give us all the mercy, grace, and peace we need for this day. We pray with joy and hope. Amen.”

- Scotty Smith, Everyday  Prayers 

family movie night

 

Our family watched a great movie last weekend, the  Ernest Green Story.

Have you heard of Ernest Green? Little Rock Nine? I am sure in my American History class we studied the Little Rock Nine at some point but I know it got lost among everything else I studied that year. My  husband grew up in Little Rock and he is the one who told me about the Disney movie The Ernest Green Story. I'm so glad he did. It's a story we all need to know and remember. 

In 1957 and 1958, Little Rock, Arkansas became ground zero in the segregation battle. The Supreme court had ruled in 1954  that separate was not equal and that desegregation must occur "with all deliberate speed". Little Rock had already begun the desegration process. They had desegregated it's public buses, zoo, the library and parks. The Little Rock school board had decided the high school would be integrated in 1957, the  junior high the next year and elementary schools the following year. 7 out of the 8 state universities had also been integrated. Everyone thought integration at the high school would be fairly easy. 

There wouldn't be an Ernest Green Story though if the integration had been fairly easy. The Governor of Arkansas called in the National Guard to block the entrance on the first day of school for the nine students and that began a battle that waged all year. The movie tells the story of how these kids, their families and supporters  went up against pure evil and triumphed. 

Go watch this movie. Go learn their story!  If you are like me, you will spend a lot of the movie just wanting to hit someone but you will also see God work through "average" people to battle against injustice.

hidden place of service

“Lord Jesus, only you can change our hearts, and grace always runs downhill—always. We tremble to ask this, but expose our pride, humble our attitudes, and soften our hearts. Make us prefer the hidden place of service over the public place of being noticed. Make us glad to be your servants, wherever you place us. We pray in your tender and powerful name”

                          - Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers 

fall craft

I recently made a  book page pumpkin and apple for craft night at Julia's cafe. I thought I would share the tutorial on here. Its easy, quick and super cute! 

Supplies needed  are red and orange spray paint, soft cover book (1 book for apple and one for pumpkin), pencil, scissors, glue gun, small sticks from yard, ribbon/twine and template for each. 

I used card stock to make the templates. 

Take off the front and back cover of the book. Lay the template against the spine of the book and trace around it. This is the apple template.

This is  the pumpkin template. 

Trace around template. Take five or six pages at a time and cut out around the shape. 

Once you have cut out the pages, carefully pull them away from the spine. 

Take the template and start all over. 

Trace, cut and repeat. I love easy crafts! 

This is what it looks like all cut out.  Before I began fanning the pages, I trimmed  the pages to be a little more even. 

Take the last page and glue it to the first page. 

Take the book pages and start spreading them apart. The two books I used I bought at a used bookstore. The books had not been read so I had to do a lot of fanning. Next time I will look for books with more wear and tear on them. I roughed up my book pages by folding and scrunching them a bit.

I kept working on it until it was full and I got the look I desired.  Fan, scrunch, wrinkle and repeat.

Once the apple and pumpkin were fanned out. I spray painted the edges. I took the small sticks I found in our yard and hot glued them on to the top and attached ribbon/twine. I also hot glued the ribbon and twine to the apple and pumpkin. This is the final product.

Have a great weekend! 

good kids

I'm enjoying this book. It's challenging me. I'm guilty of wanting to raise "good kids". I'm guilty of wanting the approval of other adults for how well my kids act. That is not gospel parenting that's moralistic parenting. I'm not good, how can my kids be good? Only Jesus is good. My kids can follow our laws outwardly to perfection but if the heart hasn't changed it doesn't matter. As Tullian Tchividjian said, "the law shows us what a sanctified life looks like, but it does not have sanctifying power. It's the gospel (what Jesus has done) that alone can give God honoring animation to our obedience.

 I never realized until seeing it laid out in this book, how I am works based not grace based in my parenting.   We all want obedient children but the problem comes when we tell them they are good and they can obey God's law. What we need to be telling them about is their desperate lostness outside of Christ. The Bible isn't about us, it isn't  learning about the Bible heroes and how we should copy them, it's not about making good little boys and girls better...its about Jesus, the one and only hero in the Bible and his love and grace for us. Gospel parenting starts and ends at the cross. As I am reading this book, I know the Holy Spirit is doing something in my heart and I'm thankful he doesn't leave me where I am. 

Raising good kids is utterly impossible unless they are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their faith into the goodness of another. You cannot raise good kids, because you are not a good parent. There is only one good Parent, and he had one good Son. Together, this Father and Son accomplished everything that needed to be done to rescue us and  our children from certain destruction. When we put our faith in him, he bestows the benediction upon us: "These are My beloved children, with whom I am well pleased" (see Matt.. 3:17). 

Give this grace to your children: tell them who they really are, tell them what they need to do, and then tell them to taste and see that the Lord is good. Give this grace to yourself too. 

                      -Give Them Grace, chapter 2 

craft night brought to you by Julia's

I love fall. Pumpkins, mums, apple picking, pumpkin spice lattes, football, cooler weather... You get the picture! I have a great way for you to get a jump on fall decorating and  help out Habitat for Humanity at the same time...craft night at Julia's cafe. Please join us on Thursday, August 22nd from 6-8 to make a craft out of used books. We will be making either a book page pumpkin or apple. Just like the ones in the picture.

I'm sure you have heard of Habitat for Humanity but you may not know about Julia's. Julia's is a coffee shop located in the Wendover Road Habitat for Humanity Re-store.  All of the profits from the drinks and goodies and used books that Julia's sells go directly to Habitat for Humanity.  

As you can imagine, the Habitat Re-store gets tons of donations of used books each week.  While Julia's is able to put out many of those books to sell in the bookstore, there are still many they can't use (you wouldn't believe some of the books they get!). Here is where craft night comes in...we will be using those books that can't be sold in the store to make our crafts. All proceeds from craft night go to Habitat. 

Please join us! 

Here are the important details...

For $19.98 we’ll provide all the materials you’ll need for a book-page project and a local blogger to lead you through the process. We’ll even throw in a drink (we have caffeinated and decaf options). All you have to bring is your creative side. The letters are perfect to hang in your home or use as bookends. All proceeds from Julia’s support Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. For more information, or to register, visit Julia's or call 704-295-4585. Julia's is located at 1133 Wendover Road Charlotte.

we have a...

A fifth grader

A third grader

and a preschooler! 

wordless wednesday on the river

August bookshelf

This isn't the kind of book you pick up and finish in a month but we are starting this in August so it made the list. This book is a question of the day 3 year  journal. We plan to use it with all the kids at dinner each night to spark conversation. It's a great way to get to know our kids better and a great piece of history on our kids. 

I am really excited to read this book. James and Thomas, both fathers of boys and therapists, cover the five stages of a boy's development. They also give practical advise and tips on how to talk with our boys about the tough topics like sex, drugs and pornography. The authors also discuss the different roles moms and dads have in guiding our sons to become men. 

The title says it all. Give Them Grace is about parenting our kids with the gospel. It's not about raising good kids, it's about raising kids who are in love with Jesus and changed by the gospel. I need to read this book as much for me as I do for my children. 

This book I've been told reads more like a long blog post than a parenting book. I'm excited to laugh and cry with Melanie as she shares the ups and downs of motherhood! 

Love

Tracy

flip the script

     

  

“This is illuminating. If you add anything to Christ as a requirement for acceptance with God—if you start to say: To be saved I need the grace of Christ plus something else—you completely reverse the “order” of the gospel and make it null and void. Any revision of the gospel reverses it. That is why in verse 6 Paul says that the false teachers are producing “a different gospel”, which he quickly qualifies in verse 7 as “really no gospel at all." 

                                                                    - Tim Keller, Galatians For You 

high five on Friday

The sun has finally come out here in NC. We have had a rainy summer. Sun=pool and good times! They were waiting on adult swim to be over!

We were blessed to be able see old friends this week. These two were buddies in Uganda. I'm  so thankful they can continue their friendship here in NC.

I love smoothies. Here is a great new recipe I tried this week. More can be found at simplegreensmoothies.

This prayer! Jason and I want our kids to have great lives but more importantly than our kids being comfortable is that they know and experience more of God.  

 In our country right now there is a lot of talk about racism. This article Meet The Racists is the best one I've read so far on the topic.  It is  is full of wisdom, common sense and grace. Please take the time to read this article and think about what Grace has written. 

Happy Friday!
Love
Tracy

good reads and summer fun

This Bible study on Galatians by Tim Keller is just what I needed. 

"It's very common in Christian circles to assume that "the gospel" is  something mainly for non-Christians.  We see it as a set of basic "ABC" doctrines that are the way in which someone enters the kingdom of God.  We often assume that once we're converted, we don't need to hear or study or understand the gospel-we need more advanced material.

But in this short letter, Paul outlines the bombshell truth that the gospel is the A to Z of Christian life.  It is not only the way to enter the kingdom; it is the way to live as part of the kingdom. It is the way Christ transforms people, churches and communities."

-Tim Keller

This post.  Challenges me and makes me think!  Zack Hunt reminds me to line up my thinking with Jesus not with a political party.

Solving Poverty is Rocket Science.  Thought provoking article from Rich Stearns on poverty and the American church's response.   Rich Stearns is the president of World Vision.  The church in America wants to help those in poverty, but alot of times our helping  actually ends up hurting the very people we are trying to help.  Rich Stearns offers a new model for serving those in developing nations. He challenges us to change!  Great insights and wisdom. 

Summer photo scavenger hunt.  What a great idea to keep the kids busy this summer.  You can go to Debi's blog to learn more.

It's done

Jonathan's life book is done! It came in the mail today. Yes!

If you are an adoptive parent  and want to make one for your child I highly recommend using the book, Before You Were Mine by Susan Te Bos  and Carissa Woodwyk.  

   

It was hard enough for me to make Jake and Elyse's baby books and I was present for their early years. The idea of completing Jonathan's Life book was intimidiating. Before You Were Mine gave not only great ideas on how to begin the book,  but also a way to help organize everything I wanted to include. The authors helped me with what to say when I didn't know parts of J's story. I wanted to honor Js first three years and those who were apart of his story, Before You Were Mine helped me to do that. I'm super excited with how it turned out. 

He is so proud of it.

We have already read it twice. 

In the interest of keeping it real...he was just as excited about the orange Shutterfly box as his book! As you can see he has put the box to good use! I know though, in the future this book and the story of his life in Uganda will be so important to him! 

happy hump day! 

Love

Tracy

wordless Wednesday

religion

Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship.

- Bono

To read more of the interview with Bono you can go to http://noapologizing.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/u2s-bono-interview-about-christ/

no answers

A baby girl is born but never goes home from the hospital, friends battle cancer, children in a remote part of Zambia are malnourished and in need of mana RUTF. They wait patiently for us to help, because The Salvation Army's Chikankata Mission Hospital  is down to its last two boxes of RUTF.  This list could go on and on.

Life. At times, it is unfair, unjust and sad. I do not understand why babies die, why moms have to battle cancer and why I have so much in my refrigerator and pantry and others have so little. 

When it comes to my plenty and others need, I can do something. I can give and by giving make a difference. But there are other injustices that I can't help to make right.  And let me be honest that is hard... because of my western mind-set, I want answers. I want things explained and I want it to all make sense. I want to have answers to give and I want to be able to give a reason for why things are happening. 

But then I'm reminded that this is my, our desert wandering. This is not home, this world as it is right now is broken and messed up. There are no answers sometimes. And thankfully, this is not all there is to life.   There is a day coming when all will be right, when Jesus returns. All I need to do until then is love. Love with my actions, not just my words. 

Tonight we will go to a memorial service for a sweet baby. I have struggled all week with God...why? There are no answers, but there are  things that I know are truth, no matter what is happening here.

He is...

Shalom/ Prince of Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

Our Help

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:6 

Our Deliverer
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2 NASB

Our Perfect Intercessor 

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Our Burden Bearer

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

 Our Healer

“... for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26b

 
Gentle Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need ... Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd’s staff comfort me. Psalm 23:1; 4 NCV

El Roi- The God who sees 

The slave girl gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are ‘God who sees me,’ “ because she said to herself, “Have I really seen God who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

 Breach-Mender

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:12

 Unconditional Love

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

The Answer
On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:3



join us

If you live in Charlotte, like to craft and help others then I have the perfect thing for you..... 

Craft Night at Julia's Cafe and Books!  Please join me and others on Thursday, June 20th from 6-8 to make a craft out of used books. We will be making book letters. Just like the ones in the picture.

I'm sure you have heard of Habitat for Humanity but you may not know about Julia's. Julia's is a coffee shop located in the Wendover Road Habitat for Humanity Re-store.  All of the profits from the drinks and goodies and used books that Julia's sells go directly to Habitat for Humanity.  

As you can imagine, the Habitat Re-store gets tons of donations of used books each week.  While Julia's is able to put out many of those books to sell in the bookstore, there are still many they can't use (you wouldn't believe some of the books they get!). Here is where craft night comes in...we will be using those books that can't be sold in the store to make our crafts. All proceeds from craft night go to Habitat. 

Please join us! 

Here are the important details...

For $19.98 we’ll provide all the materials you’ll need for a book-page project and a local blogger to lead you through the process. We’ll even throw in a drink (we have caffeinated and decaf options). All you have to bring is your creative side. The letters are perfect to hang in your home or use as bookends. All proceeds from Julia’s support Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. For more information, or to register, visit Julia's or call 704-295-4585. Julia's is located at 1133 Wendover Road Charlotte.

Love

Tracy

linky love and a recipe

front

back

This. Father's. Day. card. I love it.  I cannot  think of a better way to honor dad this year than to invest in the lives of these moms and their children at The Mercy House in Kenya.  My dad and my father in law are getting one of these cards! Go to the Mercy House shop to order yours.   

If you haven't checked out Sacred Made Shop. Go do it. I love their prints and their tagline... adorning  your space with grace and truth! The prints are beautiful and speak words of truth! I have the silhouette print...one for each of my kiddos, and I was able to pick the scripture background for each of the portraits. 

We are attending a wedding this weekend and I needed a gift for a very special couple,  so I ordered a print like this one...

 this one is on my list 

and this one

 Go check out the prints.  It is hard to choose just one!

This song. 

If there's a road I should walk, help me find it 

If I need to be still, give me peace for the moment

Whatever your will, whatever your will 

Help me find it, help me find it 

- Sidewalk Prophets

Banana chocolate chip muffins...my kids love this recipe

1 1/2 cups of flour (unbleached or whole wheat)

2/3 cup of sugar 

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 1/3 cups of mashed ripe bananas ( about 3 medium)

1/3 cup butter (melted)

1tsp. vanilla extract 

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

In  another bowl, whisk egg, bananas, melted butter, and vanilla until blended. 

Add the egg/banana mixture to the flour mixture, stir until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

Grease muffin tin and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. 

Bake for 17-20 minutes. 

Love,

Tracy