Visiting Daddy at the firestation.

Disclaimer: The intentions of this post are not to point a finger at those who have decided to no longer have children. I simply want to spin things around, even for a moment, to make you think hmmm???

Ahh… The question of my life recently. “Are you having any more kids?” Such a loaded question.

To all those who ask this question, which is basically everyone, I do not take offense. I understand that this has become a normal question in our society and I’m okay with that, heck I’m sure I’ve asked it myself.

Although this is a normal question, rather you desire a large family or not, it’s quite odd. There are many questions wrapped up in one. The first, “So when are you going to stop your bodies natural function?” The second, “Is your husband going to start wearing condoms or are you going to start taking hormones to stop your reproduction?” -sorry to be so blunt, but in actuality that IS the question.

Imagine the look in their eyes when you say, “Yes I hope so!” I honestly don’t think people ever expect to hear that answer. They have always looked shocked with their mouth wide open.

My question is… “Why do people stop having children?” Some of my many questions wrapped up in one really say, “Why are people stopping a natural function of their body, what it was made to do?”  “Why do people put hormones in their body?”

The issue lies in our cultural views on children. To call me crazy for letting my body do it’s thing and to call it normal to pump hormones in your body just doesn’t make sense to me. If this is the choice people want to make then that is fine. But for others to feel the need to explain to me how sex happens, or that I need to watch tv, or tell me I’m crazy just doesn’t seem right. Most of the time it’s the strangers who want to make their opinions of my wierdness made known to me. I would never tell anyone they were crazy for using birth control and preventing pregnancy.  Of course I feel that letting God bless you with children as He sees fit is the best way to go, but to make someone else feel less than because they are not having more children is not my place. Just as others insisting I stop having children is not their place.

I really hope this can shed some light on some of the backward thinking in our society. I used to think the exact same way! When I started to feel the conviction to let go of my fertility to God I still thought I was crazy. Over time, I no longer feel that way. Today it feels normal, right, and what I was made to do thanks to the grace of God for changing my views 100% on children.

How about you? Do you have any convictions that people call you crazy for? Are you starting to not care as much about the crazy comments like me? Subscribe and Share!

A real woman is secure, confident, and glows from the inside out. She holds it all in until the doors are closed and she gives her husband all she’s got. Yep, that’s a real woman. She doesn’t give details about her sex life or talk about her body. Her words are discreet.

She is respectful of other woman in the way she talks to their husbands and covers her body around them. She respects the husbands by not causing them to stumble. She respects her own husband by showing him he is the only one who has all of her. Se respects herself by not feeling pressure and the need for comments. She doesn’t use Facebook, pictures, or her breast to give her satisfaction. She looks to God for her self-worth.

Ladies, lets hold each other accountable in the way we speak, carry ourselves, dress, and yes, even the looks we give. Show your husband a real woman of God. Something to be treasured, cherished, and made only for him. Love him like there is no tomorrow emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Protect your husbands eyes and heart. Let’s begin today teaching our sons the importance of pure thoughts and respecting women’s bodies. Let’s show are daughters a real woman in the way we live each and every day.

Anyone else with me? Any ideas on ways to protect our husbands and sons? Surely I’m not the only one rolling my eyes at the Hardee’s commercials!!! Please subscribe and share:)

Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead,  A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The better Mom, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good,  A cat like curiosity, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, CSAHM Parenting Linkup, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Consider the Lillies, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Christian Mommy Blogger, Let this Mind Be in You, Heart Reflected

This is the time of year where it is supposed to be easy for gratitude to flow off your tongue. Family and friends get together often, Christmas cookies are exchanged, and gifts unwrapped. Everyone is in the Christmas spirit and strangers go out of their way to say,”Merry Christmas!” People don’t hide behind their hard outer shell this time of year. Everyone speaks and shakes hands.

But what if the fuzzy feelings aren’t there? What if God has your family going through a trial right now for one reason or another? This has been the case for my family this season, specifically for my grandma and great aunts. Two of my grandmother’s sisters were both in the hospital over Christmas. One of them recovering after a risky surgery and the other fighting for her life in a battle against cancer. They have been at the hospital hours each day. They even spent the night Christmas Eve in order to be close by when needed.

No life is not always fun. However, I feel it is the joyous times, when things are going great, that can help build us up when the storms of life threaten to shake our faith. On Christmas Eve we were able to reflect on funny memories, and bless one another that other wise would not have been able to happen. It’s never fun to have to go through the “grown up” stuff of this world, but on the other end is a growth and a deeper understanding of the Lord that we didn’t expect.

Even when life isn’t candy and rainbows, people who have the Lord like my family, have a hope no matter what the outcome is. It is God that binds us together in a way no one can explain.

When you find yourself in a place where life is just not fun. (Even if that’s dragging the kids to the store in the rain.) Remember that God is right beside you trucking along with you even when you feel all alone. He is always paving a way to something bigger and better. Rather it’s your kids driving you crazy with toys up to your ears, or a loved one in the hospital… nothing is too silly for God to show up.

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete, not lacking anything.

Does anyone have any experiences that were tough, but drew you closer to God? Subscribe, share, and encourage!

Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead,  A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The better Mom, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good,  A cat like curiosity, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, CSAHM Parenting Linkup, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Consider the Lillies, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Christian Mommy Blogger, Let this Mind Be in You, Heart Reflected

Alright y’all, I’ll admit that the Christmas spirit was no where in sight as I ran from store to store getting last-minute gifts. The countdown is on, and I was feeling the pressure. I have never waited this long to Christmas shop before…Never again. I’m sitting here tonight thinking about all of the things that got crossed off my list and I feel nothing but guilt. Did the guy at the checkout catch me rolling my eyes? Did the woman in the next store notice how short my words were? Did I even smile at her?

It’s no one’s fault but my own for my procrastination. The thing I have to remember is that God is still working amidst my imperfections. Who was I suppose to minister to today and didn’t?  I am a firm believer that every single detail is orchestrated by God. He knew every store I would be in today and knew of every person I would pass. I am supposed to be Jesus. Today, I failed.

The great thing about this God we serve is that He is a God of grace and second chances. Tomorrow as the countdown to Christmas keeps ticking I am going to practice what I preach. I am going to keep God first so everyone else will fall in next with myself being last.

Please tell me I wasn’t the only one gritting my teeth today! Who’s with me for a better tomorrow? Here’s to making the most of the countdown…

Comradery- The spirit of friendship and community in a group, like the comradery of soldiers at war who keep each other upbeat despite the difficulty of their circumstances.

I had a mom recently ask if I would like to hang out with her sometime to talk and get coffee. Her exact words were,” You know, just to talk, cry with someone. I just need a friend. I have been so overwhelmed lately.”  Did she read my mind? (And probably the mind of many mothers out there) I said, “Yes! I would love to, I need a friend too!” How encouraging and refreshing it was to have another mother be so blunt and ask for a true friendship.

Ladies, the mediocre friendships are there. Yes, the husband and children are great. The house is picked up. We even made it to church three Sundays in a row. Yep, we have the small talk down pat. We have figured out how to paint the picture of the Proverbs 31 woman.

However, it’s the true comradery we are lacking and greatly need. I know technology has given us many conveniences we wouldn’t normally have, yet I believe mammas in many ways had it easier back in the day. It was the friendships that made the difference. It was unheard of for women to work outside the home. This gave them the advantage of being together more often. I picture that when they got together to let their children play that they knew more about each other than just the recipe they tried the night before. Instead they talked of their trials, tribulations, shared victories, and prayed for their husbands and children. If they were Christian women there was no bashing of husbands or talking of how their kids were driving them crazy, no… It was a vulnerability and a bearing of their soul. (There is a difference) A place where the other women would say, “Oh girl I’ve been there… this is what turned my marriage around or this is how I better loved my children.”

Yes we are women. We cry a lot, laugh a lot, and carry the weight of the world. But we can also leave a huge impact by simply speaking truth. Truth of God’s word, truth of failures, and truth of victories. The truth is we don’t always feel like smiling through this motherhood journey. True friends will carry us, encourage us, and remind us of God’s grace. That my friends is true comradery. Who’s with me?

Join me! Subscribe and share!

Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead,  A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The better Mom, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good,  A cat like curiosity, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, CSAHM Parenting Linkup, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Consider the Lillies, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Christian Mommy Blogger, Let this Mind Be in You, Heart Reflected