God heard me. And I hadn’t even called out to him about it, I’m ashamed to admit.

So I sat in MOPS and silently held back and wiped away some tears as the amazing speaker was speaking. She gave us a packet of information to follow along with as she spoke. In there was a Job Description For Mothers. It resonated with me a lot and so I wanted to share it here. The rest of my thoughts on my mini identity crisis will be for another post. Because it’s a lot to explain and I’m still sorting through it myself.

Job Description For Mothers

Motherhood isn’t for quitters; the fainthearted need not apply. On the job training, mandatory. Selfishness detrimental to job satisfaction. Working hours long but flexible. Ability to pray without ceasing is clearly advantageous. Remuneration where you find it- in a toddlers belly laugh or a teenagers “thanks Mom”. Some days are more demanding than others but heavenly help and forgiveness available on call 24 hours a day. Love for God and respect for His guidelines important if job is to be secure. Becoming and remaining a mother is a permanent event. 

I think there’s something amazing that happens when you actually believe you can do it too. When you set goals and you REALLY set your MIND to it.

And can I tell you something? 2012 is going to be CRAZY, as far as our goals are concerned. We aren’t even out of January yet and some of them are already beginning to take shape. And the possibility of some of these things actually ARE tangible. WHOA.

You guys. Lets work hard this year make it awesome. Because you can’t just make goals and hope that they come to you. You have to work very, very, VERY hard. And it is just possible for your passion to become your purpose. And for your goals to become items that you CAN cross off your bucket list. And it IS possible to make your own dreams come true. It takes a lot of work. A lot of prayer. A lot of patience. And flexibility.

But the sleepless nights, creative slumps, and meltdowns are ALL worth it in the end. I’m really motivated to make these goals come to reality in my life. So no matter where 2012 ACTUALLY takes us, I’m still going to reach for those stars.

And as it happens, I’ll let you know what goals we’re reaching once we reach them. So stay tuned for that.

The next verse is:

‘She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.’ Proverbs 31:21

I believe this verse is saying a couple different things. First, she’s not afraid of the winter that is coming. Why? I believe it’s because she’s PREPARED. She is always looking ahead to the next season and preparing her home and family accordingly. She is ready for the snow and the harsh winter that might possibly be coming. She doesn’t need to be afraid because she is prepared for what the next season may bring.

How many times do we enter the next season in our lives scattered, nervous and anxious? I know I struggle with this sometimes. I just roll into the next season without really taking the time to truly PREPARE for it. This woman is not afraid. She looks ahead and gets her household ready for the next season. She’s likely getting winter clothing ready, sewing enough to keep them warm. Her children are growing and she sees the needs that they will have ahead of time. She isn’t overwhelmed by it. She isn’t dreading all the work to be done. She isn’t afraid of the storms that will likely come. She anticipates the cold, blistering winter that lies ahead and she prepares for it. The storms that come don’t take her by surprise because she is ready. And she doesn’t live in fear.

I struggle with fear. Sometimes, I fear the worst. Why do I do that? This woman doesn’t do that. She prepares for it, is ready for it, and probably doesn’t live in a spirit of dread while doing it.

But then it says that all of her household is clothed in scarlet, which I think speaks a lot about what kind of a wife and mother she is. I think that it means that she CARES. Not only does she care enough to prepare for the winter for her whole family with all the hard work that goes with that, but they are clothed in scarlet. which is a beautiful color. I could be wrong here, but I take this to mean that she cared enough to make sure that they all looked good. Not in a materialistic kind of way. Not in the showy kind of way. Not in the fake kind of way where she just wanted to keep up appearances. But because she CARED about them. She wanted them to look their best, with whatever means they had. She wanted her husband and children to feel proud in what they were wearing and to be blessed by it. She cared that they were put together before they left the house in the morning, and she worked hard to sew, do laundry and to prepare their things for them.

These two verses speak VOLUMES to the harmony that she created within her home. Her family doesn’t need to worry about the clothing they are going to wear. She is already on top of it before the winters come. They don’t even question whether or not they are going to have clothing on their backs. They are confident in her and know that each article of clothing that she carefully sews for them will be out of love, care and careful planning.

I’m not saying that we all need to become amazing seamstresses before this verse can apply. I am the FURTHEST from good seamstress. And I secretly envy those of you who can sew and create beautiful things in that way. But I do think we can all learn something from this verse, whether or not you can sew and create clothing. I think there is a lot to be said about creating harmony in our homes. There’s a peace that comes with preparation, hard work, and planning. And I think it’s really important to see the next season looming on the horizon and to gently start preparing for it. Not out of worry, but to get things in order so we can transition our families into whatever the next season of life may be for us. Clothing our families with confidence is more than about what they are actually wearing. But taking the time to care for what they look like, inside and out, and to cover them with beauty in our words, actions, hard work, and even in material things at times.

Being prepared and caring for our families in the day to day tasks, such as brushing their hair, is something that will go such a long way. As women and mothers, caring for our family is something that seems like an obvious topic of conversation. Of course we’re taking care of our families. BUT, I know all too well that the day to day tasks can become somewhat mundane. It was an awesome reminder to me to remember that all of the preparation I do every day, week, month, actually can make a huge difference in the morale of my family. Am I preparing our lives in such a way as to instill confidence? Or am I afraid? Am I not caring to brush their hair and teeth, because they’re “too little” to care? Am I remembering that what we look like (inside and out) is a direct reflection on the work I do inside my home when no one else is looking?

I am reminded that I have no need to be afraid of the winters ahead. But to work hard, prepare for the snow, and to clothe my family with the best that I have to offer. Confidence will breed from my attitude and hard work as a mother and a wife. They will be confident in me, and they will always know that I have their best interest at heart.

When the doctor told me this I tried to stay calm, but really I just stood there while silent tears rolled down my cheeks. Stopping breathing is a scary thought. And I didn’t think he was THAT sick. But I was wrong.

So he had to do breathing treatments and be monitored for over two hours. We left the urgent care at almost 1 am with a little boy who felt SO much better. Those breathing treatments really worked! So I’ve been closely watching him ever since then, leaving little time for much else. Cruz has OBVIOUSLY been naughty since all of this went down because all of our attention hasn’t been directly on him. But I’ve got two happy, BREATHING kiddos so I’ll take the naughty and the tantrums!

Hopefully we are at the end of it. And I know once they get croupe, their chances of getting it again are high. So, that’s freaky a little bit. But I feel equipped with what to look for and I know when to take him in now. I’m glad I listened to my gut and took him when I did. I almost decided to just put him to bed for fear of them just telling me that it was just a cold and a cough. I’m SUPER grateful I listened to my gut on this one and went in.

So, here’s to getting back on track this week. With healthy kids, a clean house (HAHAHA) and a better attitude than the one I have right now.

Wow I cant wait to have this for dinner to tonight!

Ingredients

- 8oz macaroni, or any smallish tube shaped pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 oz evaporated milk
- 6 oz freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
- Hot sauce, to taste
- Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Boil the pasta according to package directions, but reduce the cooking time by one minute.  Drain and pour back into the cooking pot.

2. Over medium-low heat, add the butter and stir until melted.

3. Mix the egg, milk, and spices and pour over the pasta.  Stir until it begins to thicken, about three to five minutes.

4. Remove the pan from the heat then add the cheese in four installments, making sure the first is melted completely before adding the next.

5. Serve immediately.

Mmmmmmmm…….

At the end of every episode, Mickey Mouse and all his friends do the ‘Hot Dog Dance’. Are you laughing yet? We laugh at this EVERY. DAY. Mostly because Cruz immediately flys into a routine of his that he’s choreographed all on his own, on beat and in perfect rhythm. It’s pretty cute, his blonde crazy curls bouncing around everywhere. Below is a photo of Rider’s version of the Hot Dog Dance. He doesn’t move for the entire 45 second song, but stands through the ENTIRE song with his little stubby hands held high into the air; so proud and sure that he is ‘dancing’.

Random, I know. But as parents, it’s these funny moments that get you through the day sometimes.

‘She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.’ Proverbs 31:20

It probably seems like an obvious verse. Obviously, we all need to be helping the poor and the needy. Don’t most people have a heart for those who are less fortunate? For those who don’t have anything? For the needy?

I know I do.

The unique thing that I love about this woman, is that she is probably doing this right in her own neighborhood. She is probably reaching out right in her own community. And while I DO think she is actually helping people that don’t have much materialistically, I think more-so she is aware of those who also are needy emotionally. Mentally. Those who are wounded and broken. People who are in despair. Widows who are now raising children with no father because they were killed in Iraq. Encouraging the stay-at-home mom down the street who is so lonely that she just wants to die. Reaching out to the teenager who bags her groceries every week.

She is open to how the Spirit is to use her, all through her daily life.

Because the truth is, we all come into contact with people EVERY DAY who are struggling, contemplating suicide, doing drugs and begging on the inside for someone to notice how lonely they really are. They might actually have all the materialistic things in the world and still be needy. And I honestly have to read this verse and ask myself sincerely, ‘AM I truly open?’.  Am I opening my arms to the poor and EXTENDING them to people who are in need?

Whether it be giving a homeless man ten bucks to buy some food or just listening to a friend who has been deeply wounded in their past. Whatever the need may be, I read this verse and have to ask myself, ‘AM I truly open?’.

I always say that this woman amazes me. But she really does. This verse doesn’t say that she doesn’t have time to recognize those in need. It doesn’t say that she sees them and just prays for them because she’s too busy. It says that she just DOES it. She opens her arms and extends her hands, regardless of the need. And there is no doubt that she is busy. But she’s not ever too busy to reach out to those who are less fortunate. Or to those who are struggling. I imagine that this woman’s home was full of people who just wanted to be sitting on her couch just to be near her and her family. Her hospitality wasn’t lacking, I’m sure. The compassion that came from this woman was probably abundant.

She would just extend her hands to those who needed it. And from the depths of despair of those she saw around her she was able to share, Christ, grace, love, mercy, and friendship. And THAT, my friends is what it’s all about.

Inspiring, isn’t it?

I love what I do. So much so, that it’s all I can think about sometimes. Even in the moments when I feel deprived and devoid of creativity and inspiration, I am so in love with what I do. Getting to know our couples and making new close friends is the icing on the cake. And then the topper to ALL of that is actually being at their wedding and feeling like we’re apart of the family. And being able to dance at the reception WITH them. And watching two people who’ve gotten close to us step into wedded bliss.

We hope our relationships with all of our clients stretch way past their actual wedding day. There’s nothing more inspirational then fostering good relationships, turning friends into family, and photographing their lives.

Wow. I’d do all the hard work all day every day to be able to be apart of what we were apart of last night. Amazingly fun. Here’s one image from the day. More to come on our actual website soon.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Stay faithful. For this little saying above is really true. And it’s only when we stop comparing, that we will truly find contentment. With contentment and a lot of faithful, hard work, you will begin to see the fruits of your labor.

Even if it’s hard to imagine right now.

Need I say more?

My thoughts on the next two verses are pretty short and sweet. In comparison to my other posts in this series. The next two verses are:

“She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.” Proverbs 31:18-19

I’ve really taken this past week to think on, pray over and really meditate on these two verses. And what I think it comes down to is DILIGENCE.  She is diligent.

The first part of the verse says that she sees that her trading is profitable.  I personally think that this means that she really sees that ALL she does is profitable. And profitable according to the dictionary means: beneficial or useful. So it doesn’t JUST mean financially profitable. She makes sure that all she does is beneficial. Beneficial to her husband, her family, her friends, her work, her ministry. ALL she does is beneficial and with a purpose.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

She COMPLETES what she’s started. And she does it well. She chooses to do the things that are only of benefit. She is not a ‘yes’ woman. She knows her limit and how full to fill her plate. And of those things that she fills her life with, she completes the tasks at hand. She is literally up late working. And being diligent with what she’s committed to.

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Not only do I think that she was DEFINITELY up late sewing her kiddos clothes from the previous days play, but I also think this verse goes hand in hand with what I just talked about.

DILIGENCE.

She is diligent in the details, holding the distaff and grasping the spindle. Diligence means constant and earnest effort to accomplish what was undertaken. To be diligent in your work, your life, your family requires constant effort. But to truly have the freedom to be diligent in your life, it means we have to chose what we do WISELY. We can’t do or accomplish it all. We need to make sure that what we are setting out to do will truly be beneficial to our families and our lives. And then work at those things with commitment and diligence. Starting what we can accomplish and then accomplishing what we start.

There’s not one thing about this Proverbs 31 woman that doesn’t amaze me. And still in today’s time, we can learn so much from her and God’s design for us as women.

Be encouraged today. Start this new year out not by taking on too many things that you can’t complete them all. But by deciding what is beneficial and working at those things with commitment and DILIGENCE.

Easier said than done, but so worth it.