Show me your glory

I love being a mama. It's funny, I was telling a friend a couple of weeks ago that I never had dreams of getting married and becoming a mom. I have friends, who from the time they could remember, dreamed of what their wedding would look like, how many kids they would have and loved the whole idea of growing up to fulfill those dreams.

That was not the case with me. I never really thought about having kids and definitely had no plans on marrying. I wanted to be a missionary and travel the world. Kids & marriage were not in the plans. Full time ministry was.

But, isn't it funny how God's plan for our life can be so different from the ones that we have? Never in a million years would I have believed that I would have 4 gorgeous kids and an awesome, loving husband in the military. This amazing life that I lead now is more surprising than anything I could have dreamed! More surprising and so much more incredible.

And while I love my life and feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with my babies, I still have dreams of ministry. Today I finished my training at a local crisis pregnancy center and am now qualified to be a volunteer counselor. Teen pregnancy is something that is very close to my heart and being a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center is something that I have been wanting to do for years.

I'm not really sure how this is going to fit into my life right now. While Lovey is graduating from med. school in less than 2 months, his hours are not going to be getting any better. In fact, his first year of residency will be the worst hours yet. With that said, I feel like God was calling me to this training and I stepped out in faith and did it. And now I have no idea what will come of it.

Last week, at our church's Easter egg hunt, my Pastor approached me about starting up a MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) group at our church. Again, MOPS is another ministry that is super close to my heart and one that I have been involved with for the past 5 years. I would love to see more MOPS groups in our area, but once again I have no idea how I would fit that in my life. But, I'm willing to step out in faith if God calls me.

Many moms believe that while our children are young they are our main ministry. And while I agree with that, for me personally, I also feel called to other ministry outside of my family. But I'm also very aware that I need to be realistic in how much I can do without stressing us all out and without missing these sweet moments in my babies lives.

Joseph is incredible supportive of all of this. I left for my training this morning at 9am and didn't get home until after 5pm. When I got home he had the house looking immaculate, the kids were all happy, the table was set and dinner was in the oven. He always says that he feels like one of the ways that he serves God is by helping me with all my different ministries. We have a ladies bible study at our house every other week and the night before our study Joseph helps me get ready, straightens up the house and has even been known to clean the bathroom for the ladies coming over. He's excited for the opportunities I have to love on others and is willing to support me in whatever way he can.

There are lots of good things, but what I need to figure out is what is God's best for my life? Our Pastor recently encouraged us to pray Exodus 33:18 for our lives. I did. And I can't wait to see what happens!



"Then Moses said, 'Now show me your glory.'"
Exodus 33:18

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

Caleb loved saying that yesterday. And I loved hearing it from his little mouth!

We made Resurrection Eggs together last year and I was shocked, when we got them out this year, at how much Caleb remembered. It was really amazing to open each egg with the boys and hear Caleb explain, by memory, the meaning of each item inside the egg. I think Joseph and I were both impressed with how much Caleb remembers and has learned over the past year. We talk through lots of things to the kids, read the bible with them and try to use the opportunities that arise to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. And I love how it is reinforced at their little school and at our church. They are learning about Jesus love for them and I love it!

My favorite thing that Caleb said, when explaining what the Ritz cracker represented was, "the bread is for his body and the wine is for his blood that he gave for our sins." Joseph and I were both just shocked and excited that he put all that together!

He is risen indeed!!

At church yesterday we sang, The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin and I cried as I sang the words to that beautiful song. It's an adaptation from When I Survey the Wondrous Cross which was originally written by Issac Watts. The original hymn is gorgeous and Chris Tomlin does a great job too. Check out the powerful words to this song...

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!!

The Mad Family

Dedicated to Raising Oaks of Righteousness

Today was a special day in the Mad house...Lily Kate and Ella Grace got dedicated! It was pretty sweet. I wasn't quite sure what the girls would do up there since they went to bed late last night, got up early this morning and don't like strangers looking at them. That last one is problematic when you are standing in front of the entire church!

The girls did great and looked a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e! Our church made it a short, meaningful ceremony where we acknowledged our desire to raise our girls in a family of faith and the church professed their desire to do their part in teaching our girls that Jesus died on the cross so that they can spend eternity in the presence of the one who loves them and created them.


The day was also made special because the girls aunt, grandma and some of our special friends came to church for their meaningful day!

The not-so-special-part was in the car after church where the kids and I had a melt down. Luckily Gi-Gi (grandma) came to the rescue and kept the kids at home while Joseph and I got to go to lunch with our friends. The girls were more excited about being home, then they were about going to California Pizza Kitchen, anyway!

My friend, Kellie, got these pictures for us. And because of the meltdown, we don't have any of the 6 of us. We really need to get some family pictures taken. If only the thought of doing so didn't leave me full of anxiety...