This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the infinite wisdom of the Abba Father.
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord said, “no” when we put an offer on a house this past summer.
I questioned, “Why?” as this has been one of my desires to be a home owner and share my hospitality with others.
In His infinite wisdom, He knew that I would not have my job I’ve had for almost five years come mid-November.
In His infinite wisdom, He foresaw a car accident where someone would pursue legal action.
In His infinite wisdom, He knew that having an asset of a home would not be to our benefit.
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord has not allowed us to conceive while we have been trying for a third baby the past few months.
In His infinite wisdom, He foresaw the accident that would occur on Monday, November 22, 2021. An accident where I fractured my ankle in two places and fibula. An accident that would result in a surgery that will take place on December 1, 2021.
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord is all knowing. He knows better than me, and His plans are higher than my ways.
I am thankful for the opportunities in this season to bear fruit in challenging circumstances. I am thankful for a community of friends and family who have surrounded us with prayer and support. What are you thankful for, Mama?
On September 21, my husband Derek was in a very bad car accident. Praise God, he and the other person walked away with no major injuries. My Babes was only sore, and it was truly a miracle!
To be honest, my first response was not the best. I was very distressed about our better vehicle being the one that was totaled. That night I kept reaching out in my bed, crying thankful tears that my sweet Babes was still with me! Big picture is the Lord was gracious as He protected my husband and the other man that day.
We had originally planned to leave for our annual trip to Georgia in early October. That trip was postponed while we navigated our vehicle situation.
Insurance forms were filled out. The “Fam Cam” was towed. Insurance gave us an estimate. We countered back and were grateful when they considered the cost of inflation, resulting in a higher settlement than what they first offered. In the midst of all of this, we were helping our kiddos process this big change.
Lillian kept reminding my husband daily to “stay safe” as he would leave for work. Both kiddos would say in a sad voice multiple times a day, “The Fam Cam is GONE!”
In the meantime, a family from church allowed us to use their spare vehicle so we did not have to be a one-car family. This was a unexpected blessing and we are truly grateful.
We needed a new vehicle and were a bit on a time crunch, as we had already rescheduled our postponed vacation to Georgia for a departure date of November 9.
I kept hearing the Lord telling me to, “Be still,” and “Wait.” The devotions my children did even had this verse from Psalms several days in a row, “He says, Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10.
I questioned the Lord, telling Him, “That doesn’t make ANY SENSE! How can I be still and not look for a vehicle that we need?”
So for a month, I waited. I would occasionally look online and get discouraged by the costs and mileage of used cars. When I would question and pray about it, the Lord reminded me of the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar in Genesis 16. Sarah thought she had to help God out and tried going after a good thing instead of waiting for the better thing. I kept hearing the same message, “Be still and WAIT.”
One morning, I pulled out my journal and wrote down what I was asking the Lord for. Specifically, I wanted to pay cash and avoid a car payment, have a larger vehicle as we explore the possibility of expanding our family, have mileage around 50k, tinted windows, and a backup cam.
On the evening of Saturday, October 30th my mother-in-law came over with a list of websites and vehicles she had been diligently looking up. She led us to the site that led us to this amazing 2007 Honda Odyssey with only 51k miles, and around our price range. An extensive CarFax report was available and the van was very well maintained by an older couple. No backup cam, but a sensor in the back that makes a beeping noise when you’re too close. 😉 The dealership was located in Florida City, about an hour and a half away, so we prayed on it and asked the Lord to make it happen if this was what He had for our family.
P.S. My husband’s dream car has always been a Honda Odyssey. 😉
The next day I called the dealership and negotiated a price on the phone prior to making the drive. We had the pleasure of working with a man named Antonio, who was also a believer. He made our experience there a wonderful one!
As we were there, I sensed the Lord telling me, “This is the fruit, the blessing of your obedience in waiting.” The things I prayed for specifically were met, almost to a T.
I was so tempted to rush ahead of the Lord and chase after a good thing, but could have missed out on a better thing.
Have you ever experienced a blessing as a result of obedience, Mama? I’d love to hear from you!
Hey Mamas! This summer had so many good reads by a lot of my favorite authors! If you haven’t read any of Tammy L. Gray’s books yet, check her out here! Here newest book is about to release in just three days!
I love Tammy’s honesty in the dedication. She thought her time as an author had come to an end, but the Lord gave her a story to write! I can relate as there are many times I’ve felt like giving up, and the Lord gives me the endurance to press on.
Love And A Little White Lie was a beautifully written story with characters that were authentic and relatable.
January journeys through her family dynamics and her past with a rawness that draws the reader in. She struggles with being attracted to two different men and wrestles with being agnostic while working at a church.
I loved seeing the transformation in her heart occur in this story! January’s feistiness and the swoony moments make Tammy L. Gray’s newest release a must read!
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book:
“Because sometimes it’s more about loving a person through a hard time than it is about forcing a conversion. God was going to do what He wanted to do. Meanwhile, I was convicted to use every part of this amazing ministry to show you His love.”
Not only does the main character fall in love with a man, but she falls in love with THE MAN, Jesus! That Tammy can preach, along with write a good story!
Thank you to the publishing team for this opportunity to read and review this book honestly!
Have you read any of Tammy L. Gray’s books? Which one is your favorite? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Happy Monday, Mamas! As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, reading is one of my favorite forms of self-care.
In recent years I’ve discovered that authors have “launch teams” where they select applicants to read their new releases in advance. The responsibilities of the launch team members include writing reviews, and promoting the books on social media prior to release day.
I have the privilege of being on Becky Wade’s launch team for her newest release, Stay With Me. This beauty releases tomorrow, May 5, 2020. You can check out my brief review below.
Gen awakens in a cottage on Sam’s property, with no recollection of how she arrived there. Sam discovers Gen’s secret and from the get-go convinces himself to remain as he has, isolated and alone.
The two characters must work through their past, and attraction to each other causes sparks to fly. Their experiences have shaped them, but can they trust the Lord to guide their future?
This is a must read! Every year, I mark my calendar for Becky Wade’s newest release. And every year, I am so sad when I’ve finished reading her newest book, because they are SO GOOD! Stay With Me is a beautiful story that has the reader searching their heart and staying up past their bedtime!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can purchase Stay With Me on amazon, bookbub, Barnes & Noble, christianbooks.com, Books-A-Million, and a few other places I might have forgotten! 😉
This particular book is one of my favorites by Becky. If you haven’t checked out this author, I highly encourage you to!
What books are you reading, Mama?
Bonus: Check out some of my favorite quotes from Stay With Me!
Hey Mamas! Have you read any good books lately? I love, love, LOVE reading! Reading fiction at the end of my day (or during nap time) is my favorite way to unwind and give me some self care.
My preference to read is fiction, but this year I really wanted to challenge myself to grow more as a mom, wife, and in my walk with Jesus. I’ve rediscovered the beauty of audiobooks. I love that I can be washing dishes, doing laundry, or driving around and be soaking in some goodness.
Do you have the Hoopla app, Mama? I just have to share the good news, it’s free and with your library card you have access to so many good reads, or listens. 🙂
I just finished listening to “Becoming Mom Strong,” by Heidi St. John. Wow! First of all, Heidi is a mom of 7, so pretty much a rockstar. I love how she weaves in humorous stories of her children and herself to keep it real. Heidi has scripture to sharpen and challenge the Mamas to be strong and courageous as we are in the battle of our lives, fighting for our kids spiritually. Each chapter ends with “prayer points,” recapping what was talked about and guiding Mamas how to pray for themselves and their kiddos. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!
I am currently listening to, “Parenting Scripts,” co-authored by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake. These ladies also wrote, “Triggers,” which I have not yet read or listened to. I’d recommend going with “Triggers,” first, as it seems like this book lays the foundation, but they can both be read separately. “Parenting Scripts,” is rocking my world a bit. Each chapter contains different potential scenarios that occur in most homes. The authors encourage parents to take time away from these repetitive situations and ask the Holy Spirit to guide them in rewriting a new, positive, scripture based script for the future. What I love about this book is the women recognize and say repeatedly that each individual family is unique and will have different scripts for the same scenarios. And that’s how it’s supposed to be! God is a Creative God and made each family special with their own personalities. I am not done with this book yet, but give it 5 out of 5 stars already!
What have you been reading or listening to lately, Mama? Do you prefer to read a physical book or listen? Share in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
Hey Mamas! Did you know that in Palm Beach County they offer FREE VPK for children the year before they enter kindergarten? Actually, if you live anywhere in the state of Florida, and your child turns 4 years old prior to September 1, they are eligible to participate in this program!
What does VPK stand for? Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten.
How many hours a day is my child in school? Each school is slightly different, but they will be in school for 540 hours total. Usually, it’s three hours a day, but some places offer extended days or an extra half hour. Anything over the 540 hours (3 hours per day) is paid for by the parent.
What are the steps? I’m so glad you asked!
Register at this website here. First you need to form an account, then log in and fill out forms. You can do this as early as January 1.
Wait and look daily for the voucher! It should take no more than 10 days for it to arrive in your email inbox.
While you wait, tour the schools in your area! Google which schools accept the VPK voucher and go see which one is the best fit for your family/time schedule.
Once you have chosen your school, ask them when their enrollment opens to the public. Some schools fill up QUICK. Like, within the first half hour of the first day that they open enrollment. I would get a gauge on how quickly spots of filled up in the past for your school of choice, and plan on being there accordingly. The school my son went to had open enrollment as early as mid-February last year!
Have your voucher and paperwork ready to go!
Here’s some questions to ask when touring schools:
What sets your school apart from others in the area?
How do you prepare children for kindergarten?
What is an example of the students’ daily schedule?
What are the start and finish times each day?
How long is recess?
What is the snack policy?
What is the discipline policy?
Some questions to ask once you have chosen the school:
What is the date and time of open enrollment?
How many spots/classes do you have available and how quickly have they filled in the past?
What documents do I need to bring (in addition to the voucher) the day I sign my child up?
Do you have a child that participated in VPK, Mama? My son went to an awesome school last year called Church In The Gardens! I was so pleased with our experience there. Do you have any tips for other Mamas? Share below, I’d love to hear from you!
Where did the first month of 2020 go, Mamas? I feel like it breezed on by, quickly!
I’ve been doing some reflecting on 2019 and what I want 2020 to look like. A big goal for 2020 is to pay off any remaining debt we have, and we are SO CLOSE, I can just taste it! I am finding it’s best for me to focus on one goal and go after it HARD.
Our goals can be met, but the daily choices we make play a big part in that. My sister shared with me a recent sermon from Journey Church (shout out to them!). The speaker challenged the people that small “yes’s” and small “no’s” will lead you closer to where you want to be.
You want to lose some weight? Saying “no” to eating after dinner time once, gives you more power to say “no” the next night, and the next. Saying “yes” to exercising when you want to sleep in, makes it easier to say “yes” when future alarm clocks go off.
This Mama loves a break from cooking once a week. Really, it’s the cleaning part, not the cooking part that I want a break from! 🙂 We used to eat out a few times a month at Chipotle, Blaze Pizza, or some fast casual restaurant where our family can eat off it twice and it’s super affordable. For the month of January, I challenged myself and my family to refrain from eating out.
And Mama, it was CHALLENGING! I said a lot of small no’s and what felt like some big NO’s when I really wanted something to treat myself and my family. This has greatly impacted our family budget for the better! And helped us work towards the big goal of paying off that debt!
Do you have a big goal for the year? What are some small “no’s” and “yes’s” you can do daily, Mama? I’d love to hear from you!
Most Fridays I host a toddler art class at my house. It’s a super fun way to get my Lil to interact with kiddos her age and practice the art of sharing and painting all at the same time. I typically do a read aloud and pair it with a project I’ve found on Pinterest.
Ever since doing a handprint paint project, Lillian is determined to paint her hands (and arms, imagine evening gloves up to her elbows painted on!) Every. Single. Art class. So let’s just say most of her paintings end up with handprints, not at all resembling the cutesie craft I am aiming for. Following directions is a skill we are working on! Haha.
My son, however is five years old. So he does the craft on the weekends and his turn out very well done, I must say. I fell in love, love, love with my son’s fist pumpkin patch! I thought, why not turn this into something to create for Thanksgiving? Here’s a few ideas for making placecards for Thanksgiving day.
1. The Pumpkin Fist
Supplies needed: Orange paint, paintbrush, cardstock paper or construction paper, brown and green markers
Instructions: Precut the paper, I would half or quarter each piece depending on how large your child’s fist is. Fold each cut piece in half. Have your child form a fist. Paint the fist with orange paint using a paintbrush. Guide their fist onto the paper. Repeat these steps until you have completed the amount of place cards needed. Allow the pumpkins to dry. When dry, add a brown stem, green leaves, and name of individuals using the markers.
2. The Handprint Turkey
Supplies needed: Orange, brown, green, red, and yellow paint, paintbrushes, cardstock/construction paper, a black marker.
Instructions: Precut the paper, I would half or quarter each piece depending on how large your child’s hand is. Fold each cut piece in half. Holding your child’s hand face up, paint the palm and thumb with brown paint. Paint each of the four remaining fingers a different color, allowing your child to choose. Guide your child to make a handprint on each piece of cardstock paper. Repeat the steps, adding more paint as needed to make the prints. Allow the turkeys to dry. When dry, use the marker to draw legs, feet, eyes (if desired), and the name of each individual that will be in attendance for Thanksgiving.
I hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving, Mama!
Happy belated Mother’s Day, Mama! I hope you and yours had a blessed one. I have lots of blog post ideas running through my head, but so little time to write! I am currently watching my daughter Lillian through a window as she is in Physical Therapy to fine tune her balance and walking.
Easter and Mother’s Day passed in a blur. We are in the process of creating new traditions with our children as our families expand. Sharing the holidays is a rhythm we are finding.
The past couple years we’ve done brunch with my in laws out at a restaurant. This year we hosted in our home, and can I get an amen that eating at home with kids is the way to go? The struggle of having little ones sit still for 1.5 hours out at a restaurant is real. We’ve enjoyed hosting as my MIL graciously cooks brunch and brings it to our home. The kids loving playing with their uncles and interacting with the family in their environment. Then later on in the day, after my youngest has napped, we head over to my moms to swim and eat. What a blessing to have a day off from cooking! I usually help bake an item for each family session, and am so thankful to indulge in some deliciousness I did not have to prepare.
Lets rewind (who remembers VHS?) back to Easter. Due to little ones and early bed time the past two years we have not attended the Good Friday service at our church. We’ve tried to be intentional about reading the story of Jesus’ beautiful sacrifice in our home along with creating sacred space of not running around like little chicks. We had multiple Easter egg hunts at Awanas, school, and family…trying to keep the focus on what Easter is about. What activities did you do for Easter?
It was tradition in the Urso home to get a new Easter dress every year, usually accompanied by big bows and gloves and frilly socks. Confession:this year I was too tired and didnt wash my hair or shave my legs. Shout out to maxi dresses to cover the hairy beasts! Years ago I was challenged when listening to a podcast that when I go to church, it’s not about what I gain but about what I give. It was a privilege to serve in walker room at our church on Easter morning. My eyes often tear up in those precious moments with the little ones as we read the story or color.
The day before Easter, I went for a run and had a holy moment in the kitchen. I was sweaty, chowing down on carrots and guac and simply listening to a song on my iPhone with headphones. It was in that moment that I sensed the presence of God so strongly. Most of the times I encounter that presence it’s not in a corporate setting, but in the mundane of a car ride, run, or the normal day to day.
I love that Jesus is not put off by sweaty runny clothes. I don’t have to be in my best Easter dress to enter the presence of the Holy One, he accepts us all just as we are.
What did you do to celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day, Mama? Have you encountered any holy moments lately?
“Well (insert classmate’s name here) didn’t raise his hand in school today. Even though he’s four I know more than him because I always raise my hand in school. AND I’ve been to school two times.” -Aiden Jo, four years old, after his third day of VPK.
One thing my son does not lack is good self esteem. I’m not quite sure if he was born that way, OR if all the words of affirmation he’s received over the course of his life have helped shape him to be the confident young man he is.
His above statement led into a conversation of how we all might forget things every now and then. I gently reminded my son that he forgot which table to sit at that morning when he first walked into school.
This Mama is a firm believer in humility. After all, Michah 6:8 calls us to “do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly.” The Bible is full of verses on the art of being humble. And let’s be real, no one likes a braggart.
We often have to give our sure-of-himself-son a dose of reality. For example, one day he stated that he was a better piano player than his daddy. His Daddy who was classically trained in piano for 15 years. Aiden is very passionate about music, but hasn’t quite caught up to his Daddy on this one, yet.
As parents, we exemplify humility to our children. Yet, we also strive to raise children to be confident in who God created them to be. This will result in them becomming kingdom movers and shakers
What if our children didn’t suffer from pride or false humility, but went through life fearless, hopeful, and courageous? What if they were bold in their gifts and talents, not second-guessing themselves or comparing their abilities to others?
As Mamas, let’s practice encouragement. Build up your child with your words. Call them into greatness.
I don’t know about you, but I desire to raise children that are confident for the Kingdom.
How do you build your child’s confidence, Mama? What gifts and talents do you see in them at an early age?
mamaonarun 