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!

Rocky the class bear

"Mommy maybe today I will be the star student." Maybe baby, but if not, there is always next week. This was mine and Ashers conversation EVERY Friday, for about the last two months. So this Friday as we walked, he was excited in anticipation of who would be star student. As I walked to my car, I pleaded with Jesus, will you please grant my son the desires of his heart.

See, Noah doesn't care about the title of star student,  all he wanted was the privilege of taking "Rocky" (the class bear) home for the weekend. I have to be honest every Friday, when I go to pick him up and the door flies open with another child holding Rocky, my heart breaks.  Knowing how desperately he wanted that bear and would need to wait another week.

Three weeks ago, I told my husband, I hope this is the week. He said "hon, its teaching him Patience and waiting on the Lord for his time." I said " Really its just a bear, I hope she isn't going in alphabetical order." And that my friends is why he is a better parent than I :/....  I think is teaching me something too!

Friday, I waited outside Noah's class for him to come out. Before the door even had a chance to open, through the tinted glass I saw nothing but a huge smile behind a big ol fur ball. I know that smile. And so it was before the door had the opportunity to open, he was already telling it to the world he was the star student.

Finally Lord... Thank you Jesus,  You have answered even the smallest prayer. So here is the deal, Rocky is supposed to hang out with the family for the weekend, and you are to document all you did with him and take pictures. Driving home , I glanced through the rear view mirror taking notice of the three "bears" in the back seat and I had to laugh. Here is what I was thinking. First, I hope this bear was washed, cuzz he has been around a few houses. Next how can this bear be a teachable moment to our family. And the best you ready.... wait for it..... I wasn't going to be home most of the weekend so, daddy had the luxury of carting this big old bear around. I could not have planned it better.

Noah took to rocky like immediately, it was actually quite odd how much he "REALLY" took care of this guy. He wanted to dress it, feed it, sing to it, and I have to admit I almost bought into this thing almost being a real visitor. I was gone like ALL day Saturday, and daddy had planned before he knew about the visitor to take the kids to a movie and lunch. When I told him he HAD to take Rocky, he looked at me and said "of all weekends, really?" To comfort him I said " Its Gods, perfect timing." Boom! Take that Holiness homie!

Daddy was so perfect, taking them all to the movies and lunch in. the. RAIN! He even used an umbrella and said he knocked a few people trying to get them all seated in the theater. Dads were staring at him, and one even gave him the " Brother, I feel you nod." Hahah Actually I give him BIG props, because I would have left rocky in the car, seriously!

Movies - Wreak it Ralph

This morning, as I was strapping Noah in the car to leave for church, glancing over to Rocky sitting next to him, the Lord spoke. Here was our conversation...

"Noah, do you know what Rocky is?"
"Yes a bear"
"Yes but since Rocky is not staying with us he is a visitor, do you know what we do when we have visitors stay with us?"
(blank stares from both kids)
"um, sleep with them, mommy?"
"Um ok that would be fornication" (what I thought) but what I really said was.... "Son when you have a visitor stay at your house, you host them. You serve them, you feed them, clothe them if they need clothes, you give them blankets to sleep, you ask them if they want something to drink. You serve them."
" Oh and take them to the movies to?"
"Sure, you make sure to put their needs before yours, and when they leave, you thank God that you had the opportunity to serve them."

Tonight as we were laying the boys down for bed. I asked Noah what God taught him about having Rocky in our home. He said, " I learned to serve." I asked him, "why do we serve?" He said "because we love people." I said "why do we love people?" he said "because we have Jesus in our heart."

WOW.. Really? Friends it is that simple.. Seriously we sometimes complicate the gospel and how we are to live and love, but it is just that simple.

Yesterday I was with a group of ladies, and we talked about the very same thing about loving our neighbors and service! The Lord could have not timed it any more perfect to have our little furry friend come visit. You see Rocky became more than just the classroom bear , he became a teachable tool, God used for our family about serving and loving our neighbor..

Here are a few photos that were captured this weekend.

Noah the sugary duck!

His name means comforter. When he was born there was something about him that seemed to just give you a sense of rest or peace.

I'm a little late on this post but going through pictures, I knew I had to blog about this to remember and to look back and not forget. The day before Noah's Christmas break, we were informed that Noah was getting an award. We had no idea what it was, but we were excited.

So there we were sitting in the cafeteria, which by the way seemed way smaller than I remember an elementary cafeteria being. As they filed in with their hands behind their back excited to be outta class I would imagine. When he walked through the door and saw all of us sitting front row, that smile came from ear to ear.

The principle talked about the character counts, that the school had and for the month of November it was "caring" and moments later Noah's name was called.

What I loved so much about this picture, is that when he was called, he looked back at us to give us a thumbs up.. He was so excited. We were proud and a little loud I'm sure.

What we didn't know till that day was that he was getting another award. It was a teachers award for being a "good Samaritan", for helping his teacher and his classmates.

He didn't seem too impressed, he was more excited about doing his little Christmas performance and party. You know you raise your kids and pray that what you are teaching them is sticking. Its times like this that the Lord shows us that they are listening. Giving us hope and encouraging us on this long rough road of parenting.

Straight from the awards assembly we went straight to his class of a little performance and party.

This was a small performance, but here he was saying "the sugary duck began to quack and shake the sugar off his back." The family was saying that for weeks. It was so cute, and he totally got into it. The last photo is my favorite of the day because it is genuine and I love the way he loves to laugh.

"Noah was a just man. Noah was perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God" Genesis 6:9

O Lord may my son walk with you all the days of his life!