Motherhood Post 465......

I find myself, as of late sharing my mothering experiences. If I had just one or two children those might be fewer and further in-between, but then with five kids well the words flow more often.

This commute is crazy. I mean look at the traffic.

I still can not believe I get to experience motherhood. Goodness I love being a mom.  Perhaps that might be why I keep writing about it.

Ethan just taking it all in. Moo!

My boys and I have settled on a small ranch which has been my dream since I was 18 years old.  One weekend last Fall I just sat in my car crying. Crying because it really feels good to just sit before God and cry it out. I was asking God to just show me what should be next, and I actually said to God, "I would just like to live the dream of my youth."  Living in an old farm house in the middle of nowhere is not what most young girls dream, but I did. I thought I would be a famous writer and write as I gazed out across the farm. That same day, a young woman walked into my store and said, "Hey I know you are looking for a place to live, I have an old farm house on my property."  NO FREAKING KIDDING!!!!!  God, in his awesome, answer my prayer and bless my soul kind of way is taking care of this mother and her dreams. The housing market in this small community is challenging to say the least.

My driveway takes me breath away. Thank you God!

What needed to come with that farm house was a sturdy four wheel drive rig. Again, shopping for an SUV and well to be honest, I never had to drive a used car. I have owned few cars and rolled them brand new off a lot and drove four years and years.  I could not see with starting two new business's and the thought of financing a car...no.  I again sat and asked God to give me direction in even how to buy a car. I am not car savvy when it comes to used cars and that day. As I was pondering SUV ideas and wandering from one car lot to another Emily texts me and says, "Gordon is here what do I do with him." Ahhh Gordon Harris. He is older and wiser and has a sound business mind. He will have some good advise are buying a used car.  I asked him about car buying. Right there he told me was selling his SUV because he had just bought a brand new car. He said I could have it for the money I was able to pay.  Did God just do this or am I living in a world of luck and coincidence?

I named him "Chocolate Chip" as he greets me each morning. 

Back to motherhood.  How does this post even read about my kids and being a mother. Taking care of my kids is very important to me. Seeing that they are safe and have a home that is cozy and fun.  Asking God in this journey of being a mother that  would be able to sustain a home and safe vehicle as living where I now live has challenged my driving skills.

I have no idea who owns these guys, but I often stop to pet them.

My boys have adjusted to this new normal and they love where we live and grumble when we have to be in town, because they would rather be home outside playing. God sustains all things good. Look for that goodness and you will find it smiling at you. Cheers~Elizabeth

God Shows Up

It is 2:00am and my heart is heavy. I just toss and turn in bed and go over the details of events and ask God who I am to be in this situation. I reflect on the many positives things going on in my life and ask why this one situation is taking up the wee hours of the night, my heart,and my brain space. This is a time for comfortable slumber, sleep and rest.

I decided to walk downstairs and open my Bible and my journal. What words of comfort would God have for me. I have none of my own. I just know that until I am comforted there will be no sleep for me. I write in my journal:

"Dear Lord Jesus, hold my hand, comfort my heart. Do not let me distracted, show me who to be. Help me not to breed any bitterness, but to show grace, love and joy."

Do you ever have one of those moments where you begin to search scripture and say okay God, I have no words for my own process and really need you to just show me the way.

Psalm 91:10-11
"No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you. To gaurd you in your ways."

Wow!!! I think the plague I could have had was just prayed over...bitterness. It is a serious plague and that tent is my heart. I do believe the comfort to my heart was just answered. And He is faithful to my cries in the night. God truly knows my heart, my intentions, my process. I woke up the next morning (yesterday) and had to share with anyone who would listen how God met me at 2:00am. Some close to me know the situation I speak of so the meaning was that much more powerful. But this is not about the situation. This is about understanding and knowing that God has got me covered. I am being gaurded. The day unfolded with so much joy and so many blessings. The Holy Spirit intervines when we ask.

I met up with my cousin over coffee last evening. She shared a simular story. As she spoke tears filled my eyes. She was just beginning to understand who God might be in her life. She was not sure if she really believed. So she decided to test the waters and prayed a very specific prayer and guess what, it was answered. She is a sweetheart. God knows the intentions of our hearts to know Him we must come to Him, the big and the small stuff. He shows up 24/7. Do we show up when we need to? I don't want to make 2:00am a regular date with God, but in my time of confusion He met me there.