The "Gracie" Scarf

EXCLUSIVE!!!!!!! As you know our team will participate in this years run or walk for finding a cure for pediatric cancer research. Here is another way you can support!

The fabulous Frances Ramos, of P31 photography and crochet extraordinaire has made a special piece that is exclusive to Team Runners for Grace! Introducing the Gracie scarf, color inspired by Gracie herself.

 

We have four to sell at an exclusive price of 25.00 for runners/walkers of team Runners for Grace or 35.00 for non registered walkers or runners. I will cover the shipping if needed. Although the weather is changing it is still pretty cool out and this is a beauty! We only have four so the first four people to respond it is yours! 

Email me, FB me or Text me if you are interesting in purchasing one! All money will be donated on behalf of our team to the foundation! 

Stay tuned for more updates :)

Moni

ping pong germs and rest!

The house was quiet, as it should be at 1030 at night, the only light was that of the computer monitor that I was staring at. As I sat there looking at an excel sheet full of jumbled numbers barely able to keep my eyes open, I knew it was time to go to bed.

I crawled into my side of the bed, and no sooner did my head hit the pillow when I heard the grumbling of his tummy. It was loud and mid turn I heard his moan. I took in a deep sigh and went down stairs to get my hubby some water and a Tylenol.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Oh Lord I need rest. You see my husband was the next victim in the ping pong of germs that the family has been tossing back and forth, in this game with never ending overtime. Someone told me that other day that I needed to rest. Driving home this morning, I had to ask the Lord what rest looked like in the middle of crazy.

Where does rest fit in with a schedule of kids, school, tball, ministry, sickness, heartache and burdens. In the middle of crisis of a friends marriage falling apart, waiting to see if grandma is going to heaven or decided to hang out a little longer here on earth. School, Tball practices, disciplining and well plain old parenting.

I think that we have this false expectation of what rest looks like. You know like sitting on a beach, in the sun with a good book, alone. Or perhaps, renting a movie, crawling into bed and not coming out after hours of vegging. ummm yea, nobody got time for that in this house.

But you know the "rest" that Jesus is talking about here in this passage isn't of a physical rest. It is one of a mental rest. Look I can retreat to the beach and have an afternoon of relaxing but the truth is the moment I get in the car, the crazy comes back. Jesus gives us an invitation to come to Him, to find that mental rest that only He can give.

He is essentially saying, look homie, come here.. give me what is heavy in your heart, and leave it here. Allow me to deal with it, let me take if off your shoulders for a moment. Give your mind a rest from thinking so much about it.

Not convinced yet..

Think of this from a parents perspective for a moment if you will. Your child wakes up crying with fever and walks into your room. What do you do? Send them back to the room with instructions how to take care of themselves? No way.

You see their need, feel their pain, calling to you, you medicate them, comfort them and lay with them. In that moment, mom never felt so better. You are taking their burden of being sick and allowing them to find the rest in your presence. If you an earthly mother, can be so loving and gracious, imagine the heavenly father.

Are you in the middle of crazy? Carrying burdens, even some that are not even yours? Would you accept the invitation that the Lord is giving you. Come into His presence so that He can help give you that rest? Are you tired of being tired?

I am praying with you and for you.. May you have rest tonight!!!

Love you,
Moni

Clumpy peanut butter & raising a man!

The other day we came home from school, and I did the usual "what do you want for lunch?" Noah wanted a sandwich of course and Caleb wanted cookies. As I was at the pantry, Noah asked if he could make the sandwich today.

Sprinting to the fridge for no apparent reason for the Jelly, I told him , it was ok for him to relax a moment and take off his shoes. Truth be told it was easier if I did it, quicker and cleaner. But you know what, as I glanced up to his disappointed look I realized something. I am not just bringing up a boy, I am raising up a man. I am raising someones roommate, and Lord willing someones husband.

As I watch him make his sandwich with TOO much peanut butter clumped all in the middle, and squeeze the jelly all over the table. I realized one day he will smooth it out, and be much neater about it because I let him learn.

You see raising boys, we get into this "I want to take care of my lil boy" mentality. We think that by doing everything for them, we are loving them. Yes we are, but what God is showing me that the best way I can love them is by teaching how to be the men God desires them to be.

I want them to be a helpmate. I want them to know how to cook, do the dishes, do the laundry and clean the house. Until they get married, they will possible live on their own or be a roommate. I want them to know how to survive doing the domesticated duties. In our house, my husband does the laundry and I fix the garbage disposal.

Growing up I loved to watch my dad fix things and get under the car with my dad or brother as they did the brakes. When it comes to domestic duties, I do not think that we should have gender discrimination!

My boys have a heart for service, the last couple of days as I have been sick (yet again) Noah has brought me water, covered me and even prayed for me unsolicited. He heard me asking daddy for water and before my husband had the opportunity to bring it, it was already on the table. I need to let him do this. Even if it isn't pretty, takes up to much time and I have to clean up after him, I need to let him try.

It will not be easy, but I am thankful that the Holy Spirit shows me these teachable moments. Don't you love that about the Lord. How he gives you parenting tips and advice through His spirit, that is free, practical and applicable?

The more work we do now while our children are young, the less work we or someone else will need to do later!

"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his father"
Luke 6:40

-Moni

Valentines day, a funeral and fatherly love!

Last night Noah asked me why he needed to give out valentine cards. Good question son, I could have googled it like most people would, but I didn't. You see every holiday we try to go on beyond the "commercialize" aspect of it. You know its not about the bunny, not about Santa, and so on and so on. Although it is fun to play along that is not the sole reason why we celebrate it.

So like every other, I don't want him growing up thinking valentines day is just about gifts, cards and lovers. You see I have never really been into Valentines day, even single, I didn't avoid it or hate it like the plague and even married we didn't take it over the top.

It wasn't till 11 years ago that valentines changed for me. You see on this very day ,we buried my dad. He lost his life to cancer, and although it could have made me a bitter valentine critter, it is part of my testimony of returning to the Lord. It is a bitter sweet day for me, he died so I could have life. My dads death and journey with cancer is part of my testimony of how I became broken, depressed and found refuge in the savior.

Those that know my testimony, know that it wasn't a romantic love affair of falling for the savior but a broken road of hurt and pain and a falling to my knees. A real life picture of how our heavenly father came to die so that he would take away the sins of this world so that we might even have a chance to live and make it to a place He prepared for us.

So valentines day to me is a day that I am reminded of how much love the Lord has for me. It is more than the gifts and flowers or chocolate. I love my husband, but he could never give me a gift greater than the one the Lord has given me. He could never love me more than Jesus.  One day when Noah is older I will explain how the grandpa that he never met, died so that mommy can find true salvation.

How he went to heaven and is seated with Jesus waiting for us to get there ,where we will spend eternity together. A place that is possible because Jesus died and because grandpa did to!

So what did I tell him?

I told him that today is a day we celebrate that Jesus loves us and we can share that same love with others. I explained to him that God calls us to love, and how we do that is by loving everyone that he puts in our lives.

I told him we didn't "need" to give valentines or gifts but it is a nice thing to do, to show gods love. It is my prayer that as he grows he may not look at this day to live up to expectations if he is in a relationship or to be a hater if he is single, but he would know that he is loved by the Father. He would know that God is love, and THAT love is all you need.

My loves, if you are single or married, let us not have earthly or commercial expectations of this day. May you know that God love is all you need, and If that is all you get today, it is enough!

I love you and thank you for walking along side me on this blog.. I so wish I could give you a big cyber hug! one day.....

In his Love,
Moni

Love notes from Jesus.... Countdown to Valentines Day!

We had such a blessed time doing the Jesse Tree Advent for Christmas that the Lord totally gave me a vision for a "14 day of love notes from Jesus" to count down to valentines day!

Each day I wrote a love note from the Lord to read to the family, on three particular days there is a note specifically for each one of my dudes. #2 for Caleb, #5 for Asher and #10 for my main squeeze! Each day is a little note, with a scripture to back it up.

It hangs on a old window on a clothes line. The kids were excited to grab it out of the envelope and see what the Lord had to say to us tonight. It was a fun way to incorporate the love the Lord has for us.

Since I only hang with the cool kids... My friend Melissa is a gifted chick who created some love notes for the less crafty people. So if you wanted to join in the fun, you can click on this link and it will take you to the blog that has the printable that she created! You just simply open and print!

God is Love... Love is all you need!