A Must Read and Share Letter

One of the best letters I have ever read regarding social media, and morals.  This Mother said everything I could never find the words for. So good!!! And such a fabulous Mother!!!
http://www.viralnova.com/a-concerned-mothers-letter/

Part Two

Have I mentioned just how much fun this was?  :) 

Completely So Last Minute... and So Worth It

Yesterday my 8th grade daughter begged for me to go take some pictures of her for her 8th grade yearbook page. 
Totally Last Minute. We quickly took these shots 25 minutes before picking up her brothers for school, Now I have to say this was a pretty good use of 25 minutes- so worth it!!!
 I am so happy we found the time to go to a beautiful horse trail area near our home and capture some beautiful shots.  Now while I took WAY MORE than I needed to, I'm happy we went- I've only edited half of them so far- and the rest I will post tomorrow.  Until then - ENJOY! 
Now off I go to clean my house for Christmas! 

Wiping Away the Dust

It's been a long time since I've wiped dust off my bible.
I can feel the tension that dust has stirred within me.
I haven't picked up this pencil and journal of mine,
in what I just realized today has been too long-
I'm feeling that tension too.
Why do I avoid your good when things seem so sad Lord?
I need your word to light up my life,
so today I choose to dust off my precious bible that contains your loving word,
because you have taught me this week, 
that on the days the dust isn't present are the very days I am led by You,
to be the best Wife & Mother I could be.
It is where that dust is wiped away
that you are able to lead.

Happy Thanksgiving From The Lapierre Family!

More To Come... :)

Love & Blessings,

The Lapierres

My Personal Skin Story

http://hlapierre.blogspot.com/

Speechless

I don't know where to start. Mixtures of emotions...
knots, ache, sadness,selfishness and peace all at the same time
I just can't go here yet
so for now
I pray and trust in Gods healing power over our hearts.
I thank Him reluctantly because of my selfishness for taking my Papaw home sooner than any of us ever expected.
It's hitting me like a brick!
What is life like without my Papaw? I want to hear Him call and say "Heyyyy Baby" the way he does.
 I want to know he's going to stop by unexpectedly like he always did.
 I want to see that note in the mailbox with his sweet writing sending us treats for the kids.
I want to make that call where I put him on speaker and the kids and I tell him how much we love our Papaw, and  thank him while we all go out for ice cream- his special treat!
I want to watch him carry my son on his shoulders again, play with my daughter on the floor, and talk to me about the end times.
My handsome Papaw who I adored all while growing up will no longer be here on this earth.
The staple of our family, the head honcho- How in the world do we do holidays without him?
Gods whispering in my ear to release him because my Papaw is joyfully in his care,
 I just wasn't ready for life without Papaw yet;
and it is here I rest in Gods loving arms to hold me right here- speechless.

31 Days To Connect with Your Children

I have 3 children, all very different, requiring different ways to connect with each one.   How does a mom go about this?  She rotates, and she shares, she makes every effort to spend equal time- this is my journey to carry beyond these upcoming 31 days.

How do we find that place again where your heart feels still as you hold your newborn, that peace you feel when you climb in bed at night after telling them their bedtime story and they go to bed so peacefully.

Elaborate on that feeling

It's like hearing the ocean waves, it's that calm place, that peace of a days love joyfully given.

As days turn into months, and months turn into years people change.  I've seen it between just my husband and I within the last 11 years of our marriage.  We are all such unique individuals, and sometimes our own uniqueness doesn't want to agree with the others.
If I'm honest, that is precisely because I am so comfortable in my own uniqueness, that it is really hard to step outside of that and see someone elses point of view.  This is going to be a hard one for me, I'll tell you why- I have this type of phobia that I am right "most" of the time--- definitely more than less, this is my control issue.  Funny though- it is the exact kind of issue that in reality stirs me up inside and spins me completely out of control- because I obviously cannot put my family in my own little world.

Oh but when my babies were little, I showed them how to do everything- and they were so teachable- until about thesweet ages of 2 and up- this is when that special part of their brain kicked into full gear called the "opinion".
I have three children, with completely different opinions, how do I connect without feeling sooooo torn in soooo many directions and end up in a place where I'm too stressed to connect at all?

These next 31 days, I'm going to focus on how to do just that.
To find that place where once agian I listen for that calm place, and receive the peace of a days Love joyfully given.

Five Minute Friday} "True"

I'm writing this Friday on Saturday- with the word True. 
Not worrying whether it is right or not- 
I'm supposed to just write.  
That's what I love about Five minute Friday, 
not worrying allows True to blurt out on my keyboard without interruption.  
This week I have been true- truly truthful :) 
As a Mom of three beautiful children, I know I need to see them each individually for who they truly are. 
Not who I shape them to be.
To do that they need to see me be true to them, and myself  in every since of being a Mom.  
True in investigating each and every one of their personalities.
Instead of creating one for them.
True to see them through this life we've been given as a gift,
so they will be inspired to pursue Gods calling, no matter what they face.  
True in allowing them to feel their real feelings and not wondering if they are right or not.  
Because I learned this week, "Feelings aren't right or wrong, they just are".
Just as I honestly type out these words on my keyboard to without interruption appear on my computer screen, 
they should be able to honestly voice their true feelings...
knowing their words will reflect off of their Mothers loving eyes. 
 A Mother who will see them through this sometimes crazy world we live in.  
A Mother who will see the world through their little eyes to find the beauty they see in it...
and join them in it's God given magnitude.

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Happy Anniversary to Us!!! :)

What a fun night!!! My hubby and I got to go out to celebrate our 11th anniversary!!! Concert night and we called ourselves the plaid twins :) Thank you Mom so much for blessing your grandchildren with your sweet sweet presence!

Five Minute Friday} "Lonely"

Have you ever felt lonely in the midst of a crowd?
It is possible to feel lonely when we are not alone,
we tend to shut the world out- while all along we know they are there.

Have you ever felt lonely next to Jesus?
It is possible to feel lonely next to the one who wipes our loneliness away,
when we tend to shut Him out knowing He is there.

We don't have to be lonely- when we cling to Him we gain security and a sense
that is beyond explanation of acceptance.
We must also, reach and accept.

I imagine a child clinging tight to his or her Mother,
not wanting to feel alone, and that sense of love that eases the soul.

I imagine wrapping my arms around my husbands strong right arm
no longer lonely,
 instead... part of something special-
I feel Loved.

As I sit back, take a deep breath, and clutch tightly the word of God against my heart
I no longer feel lonely, instead,
part of something beyond my loneliness-
LOVED!

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Five Minute Friday} "Story"

We all have a story, it is a beautiful story that God has already carefully written for us. 
He knows where we will go, 
what we will do, 
the struggles we will face,
 and all the triumphs we will experience.  
He knows our story...
 the parts that will make our hearts flutter,
 those that will turn us into knots,
 and those where He will make himself known.  
Even the parts of our story He knows we will fight, but that is what a story is.  
We fight it, not knowing that He knows the outcome. 
 In each and every story there will be trial, 
and in each and every story there is an ending- 
where He has always been my Hero!!! :)

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Francesca Batistelli} Strangely Dim

Tenth Avenue North } Worn

Never Gone } Colton Dixon

Five Minute Friday} Broken

Broken is that ache you feel deep within your heart.
Broken is the lump in your throat.
Broken is the fierce anger you feel toward the One you know deep down inside,
 is the very One you should turn to.
Broken is not knowing Why.
Broken is the feeling that you have sunk,
 and for the life of you- 
you can't get out.
And you really can't get out---
 not alone anyway.
You will need friends to listen, friends to be there and weep along side you.
Those friends are fabulous,
 but what about when they can't be there.?.. 
and you feel all alone.
You need to turn to the very ONE you are angry at-
 because He will understand.
You may feel so broken that you feel you hate Him...
he understands that too.
There are no words that any human could possibally say to heal your pain,
but the one you feel caused this pain is your very source of healing.
We don't understand this life of ours, but God does.  
Cry out- be honest- tell Him how you feel...
and don't stop!  You are mad at Him- tell Him that too!
There will come a day when you will see He's always held you, right where you are.
There will come a day when you will see you can trust Him with every hurt in your being. 
The day you just fall to your knees in tears asking why, 
The day you will feel His presence give you the very air you need to breath again.

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Five Minute Friday} "Belong"

My sweet child

You belong where God has placed you.

You belong right where you are.

In the difficult times- 

you belong there-

He's gonna show you something.

There will be tears, there will be anger...

Oh it's gonna be hard, 

but knowing you belong right where you've been planted will make your burden easier to bear.

It will take time.

There is beauty in belonging,

that only His eyes can see...

He will hold you there

Trust Him to be your light, when you feel you don't belong here in this broken moment...

Let Him lead you to a place- 

where you know -

You... 

belong to Him.

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Musical Sunday!

Colton Dixon, American Idol contestant, Song: "You Are"

"If I had no voice

If I had no tongue

I would dance for you like the rising sun

And when that day comes and I see your face

I will shout your endless glorious praise"

Five Minute Friday} "Listen"

With the beginning of summer break I am relieved that i can chill a bit more.   Then the anxiety slowly creeps in.  

I still feel it, the anxiety that stems from getting everything just right!  

From the way I parent, to the way I organize my life at home. 

I catch myself trying too hard to connect with my ever growing children, in a way that feels special to all 3 on an individualized basis.  

I want to know them equally, I want to be a piece in their life that has allowed them to be the best they can be, their encourager,  their go getter, atta boy, atta girl mom.   

It's hard- they are all so different, how can I stretch myself as a Mom to meet all their needs?  How can one person help her children thrive, when they are all 3 in completely different places, with completely different personalities?

Then I feel the peace of Summer slowly seep away into a little island called stress.  

It is here God finds me, and whispers just one word ... 

"Listen".  

He is so right, the anxiety will cease when I stop worrying how I'm gonna make all this work with each one of my very specially unique God sent children.

He says simply "listen".  

This is my summer to get on my raft, paddle away from the island of stress- the one that keeps me from others, the one where I listen to only myself- the one where I stress myself out about getting it all just right.  

Paddle away from that lonely place into a place where I allow my children to share openly like I share with God.  

A place where I listen to my unique children,

find joy in parenting, 

and prayerfully guide them along the path they were each chosen for. 

Find that place to be interested in the things I'm not naturally interested in, all because it is a part of them, and oh how I love them so. 

Just this past week when I paddled into the island of stress God had placed one word on my heart.....

Listen.

And after this week its the Five Minute Friday prompt!

He's placed this word on my heart for a reason.

When she talks about her friends, how she can't wait to learn to drive, music, and fashion, and gives her grand ideas for her future- listen to her.

When he talks about sports players, their standings, the latest scores,  his motocross lingo, his favorite race tracks, and the new kid next door-  listen to him.

When he talks about how every Lego in the universe fits together, and what it can do, the way things are built, and every small detail about his favorite sci- fi movies, and the girl he has a crush on from school, even though he's only 8-  listen to him.

I realize all I can do is listen,

instead of constantly trying to figure it all out before they even get a chance to speak. 

I take comfort in His direction, and

I row back to the island of Peace, that He so lovingly provides. 

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It's Summer Time!!! First things First...

Image Courtesy of Pinterest

First things first I must put that phone away, the joys I miss when constantly looking for texts, scrolling through emails, reading ads, websites- there is just so much to do on a smartphone, it's extremely hard to put it down!  
There literally is a difference in me between the me with "no smartphone", and the me "with smartphone". 
I think it should have been called the stress case phone, because once you have one it will become a crutch to life, a crutch to avoid conversations you are to afraid to face, a constant at the palm of your hand chance to find out anything you need to without patiently thinking whatever it is through.  Constantly reaching for a device to provide everything we need to know, and feeling like you have to CONSTANTLY figure EVERYTHING out.  There is never much quiet in my day with that mentality.  
Yes it can be a fabulous tool- but more often than not it becomes just an extra thing to reach for and distract us from everyday life.
 So this summer with my kiddos I am putting that phone away, unless I absolutely need it as a means of communication in case of an emergency; 
other than that I desire that calm, quiet, & devoted fun with my dear children.  
The kind I felt before the smartphone. 
 The kind I enjoyed before I felt I had to always be looking at something-  
The time when as a Mother, 
I could just be.....

The Day I Touched a Rainbow

My Featured Young Author:

Jimmy Lapierre

Here's his winning story...

"The Day I Touched a Rainbow"

by, Jimmy Lapierre '2013

One day, when I was on my way to school I saw a rainbow, and then I touched it.  I started getting smaller and I turned into a Leprechaun! 

After that I saw my friends' Nathan and Jordan talking to eachother,

Then,

I tried to tell them hello but they could not hear me.

Finally, they noticed me and Nathan said

"Jimmy, what happened to you"?

So I said

"I touched a rainbow and then I turned into a leprechaun"!

"OH MY" said Nathan.

"What can we do to help", said Jordan.

"I know" said Nathan.  "Maybe we can talk to that leprechaun" he said.  "OK" I said.

"Hey You" said Jordan.

"Ahhhhhhhhh"! The leprechaun said as he was running away.

"Get back here" said Nathan.

"Don't worry" I said.

"He will come back.  I swear," I said running after him.

 Then I saw him, and bumped into him.  I said "Can you help me turn into a human again"?

"OK" the leprechaun said, "but first you must give me a gold coin".

I gave him a gold coin.

"Thank you", he said.

Then everytjing started to spin and I was a human.

"Thank You" I said.  

"Your Welcome"

the leprechaun said nicely.

The End.

Yet Another Season

I was feeling despair from so many different angles; every which way I felt attacked - defeated - and just right out ready to throw my towel in and if it was possible lay in bed for days until it all magically disappeared .  
I felt withdrawn, hopeless, 
it was yet another season of not feeling Gods presence, but I was wrong- way wrong! 
I was withdrawn ; I threw my faith out the window and kept some of it in tact; but mostly i withdrew. 
I needed to read Gods word so desperately.   
I was feeling resentful towards family situations, and my husband- oh but he so deserved it.  Feeling this way is how I knew I desperately needed to take a trip back through the New Testament and allow Jesus to speak into my tired, weary, and aching heart.  
I knew anything in red is just what I needed; so that is precisely what I did.  
As I read word for word through the first 10 chapters in the book of Matthew I was reminded of Jesus' character and how no one can ever compare to the inspiration of His life here on this earth! 
I took a moment and thanked God for His gift - and reminder that Jesus never turned anyone away.  
If you and I were unable to read His sermons we would never understand the true meaning of forgiveness.  
Then I thumbed through my bible and found an insert I had slipped in there back in January 2010,  
just waiting for this very day; 
it was titled our constant friend. 

2 Timothy 4:16-18

"At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.  May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might fully be proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it.  And I was delivered from the Lions mouth.  The Lord WILL rescue me from EVERY evil attack and WILL bring me safely to His Heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

If there was ever a verse to be memorized, and proclaimed in prayer during the shifting of seasons, and the roughness in growth- it is most definitely this one!

If you knew my week;about a month ago this was just what God knew I needed to hear, there was definitely a reason for it being tucked away for 3 years.  The devotional I have copied below from Charles Stanley's in touch January 2010 devotional.

Our Constant Friend

READ | 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Many of us have experienced times of abandonment just when we needed that other person the most. It could have been a spouse withdrawing emotionally, a co-worker who ignored us, or a close friend who seemed too busy to help. The life of the apostle Paul teaches us how not to become discouraged in these situations.

Remember that the Lord is always with us. When we trust in Jesus as our personal Savior, we enter into a permanent relationship with Him, and His Spirit comes to live in us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus remains with us at all times, regardless of the circumstance. He is our friend—one who will never leave us. And His is the most important friendship we have. Reading our Bible will help us to remember this.

Draw on God's strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to divine power every minute of the day. When we let go of control and depend on the Lord, we will be able to draw on His strength. Then, if family or friends cause hurt, His presence will provide comfort and help us to forgive them.

Look expectantly for God's deliverance. Paul testified that the Lord had rescued him and would continue to deliver him from every evil situation. He knew he could always trust God.

Paul faced many painful situations without the support of friends. Toward the end of his life, those who cared about him were widely scattered. Yet his attitude remained hopeful because Christ was his constant Friend. Do you know the Savior? Are you aware of His presence throughout your day?

CREDIT:

http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content.aspx?topic=3974#.Ua9ulkC1F8E

What My Mama Did...

What my Mama Did, she may not have ever known, but now is my chance to show her what all her hard work, worry, stress, tears, and unending love did for me.
It may not be the things us Moms intentionally do to connect with our children;
oh... it's so much more than the getting me ready for school, making sure I was eating all my dinner, driving me to my friends house, and making sure to work hard so I would have nice clothes to wear, and all the other necessities in life.
What my Mama taught me were special moments that have imprinted a forever stamp on my heart.
These special memories are what I; because of her, get to treasure for the rest of my life!
They make my heart smile when I speak of them to my husband, my own children, and friends.
What I took from your Mothering Mom...
Is Priceless!

I grew up in the desert, and our family moved within our general area quite a few times, that meant changing schools- it didn't affect me too much- because there was always something I knew in my heart that was constant, that was my Mom.  She was my constant!

She was what Mothers are supposed to be, my safe place.
There were times I knew I did something terribly wrong, that I knew once I went to her she is where I would find my comfort.  Even though she may not have known it.

The way she always forgave me,
and with little words I knew in my heart she knew I could do better,
and she believed in God and kept on praying for me to see it too-
and I do.

Our drives through town to pick up some french fries, a carbonated soda, and park our car in just the right direction to watch the cars drive by Highway 111 as we shared such special conversations. We popped our gum in our travels (but never in public). ;) Just us Girls!

The way she showed me how to properly put sheets on a bed because she once worked at a hotel; and learned how to make a bed just so.
Her bed making skills are phenomenal-
seriously.
She has shown me, but I still can't do it like her.

The days we cried watching our dog get sick with leukemia together and had to put our sweet Mindy down.
I could break down and cry in her arms, and I always knew she'd be there.
To this day I can call her and lose it with pure exhaustion, I can count on her prayer and loving honesty to get me through. She will never cease to point me in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.
She's never pointed me in any other direction than His,
-that-
to this day speaks magnitudes into any trials I face.

I remember watching movies, her back rubs, and her special touch.
I'd watch her hands-  and notice ours were the same-
I couldn't wait to be a grownup because I'd be just like her :) and I am- lol!

We can share stories of what Jesus has done in the smallest of situations and stay up til 3 or 4 in the morning just doing what girls do best... talking. :)

The way she was there with me as I gave birth to my first child as a single mother, the way she comforted me when I told her the news of raising a baby all alone.  She was the first to remind me I wasn't alone.  God would see us through- and He did!
All those fun days spent getting my apartment ready for my sweet little girl, the swollen feet we'd watch with awe while we stood in aisle after aisle shopping.  Followed by countless trips through the Wendys' drive through for Frostys.
All the Mother Daughter sleepovers we'd have so I wouldn't feel so lonely- and the night we jumped out of bed scared to death at her house, because the alarm was set off by a sensor while we were in a deep sleep. The way we laughed soooooo hard realizing how funny we both look when we are scared!

Through life...

I watched her worry, I watched her have faith, and I watched her never give up.

I am so honored to call my Mama "My Best Friend"! 

Featured Author!!!

This is no ordinary Author...

This is a Young Author...

Only 4 are picked out of his entire grade, each month...

This is my Son.

 I am so proud of my Young Author,

as soon as I get his writing on Monday morning after a celebration, I will feature it here!

I can't wait to read it!!!!

Five Minute Friday} "Here"

Here...

Here I hear His voice in the midst of joy,

and in the midst of hurt.

Here He meets me,

where He has met me since I was born,

even when I didn't know it... He met me there too.

Knowing He is always here,

whispering comfort into the heart He created me to hear Him with,

strengthens my faith.

From Here to there-

I must trust that in my "Here right now...He is there already".

I thank you Father for meeting me here in the midst of it all!

I Love you Lord with all my heart!

Love,

Me

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"Just a Quote"

"Truth is stranger than fiction because we have made fiction to suit ourselves. What we need is not a religion that is right where we are right, but one that is right where we are wrong" 

- G.K. Chesterton

Quote cited from the book "Why Jesus?" 

By Ravi Zacharius

Five Minute Friday} "Rest"

Dear God,

In those moments of feeling defeated
when I feel I've lost control of every situation,
Remind me you are in control

Remind me to rest in You.

When all the noises outside seem so loud,
when my heart races trying to figure it all out,

Remind me to rest in You.

When my to do list seems a mile long,
and nothing seems to get accomplished

Remind me to rest in you.

When things don't go according to my plans
remind me Your plans are better than mine,

and because of that I can take a deep breath,

feel your embrace among all that is uncertain,

and be reminded that You are always here,

and I can always Rest in You.

Thank You.

Love,
Me 

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Five Minute Friday } "Home"

In the busyness of Mommy hood, among morning carpool lanes, Friday payday & bill paying day,
 I took a quick mini second glance at today's topic from my phone-

 I knew I had not had five minutes yet to share on Lisa Jo's word of the day while at my daughters basketball party.  
I knew though that later I may just get that five minutes to reflect on the powerful word "Home". 

 I have to admit; at first glance I really had a vague idea of the generic "Home is where the heart is" saying- I told myself that with such a powerful prompt; I would not be able to do it justice- so I set it completely aside; and didn't think about writing on it at all...

that was until God showed me something powerful.

On my way home alone; no kids in tow, from grocery shopping- I looked in my rear view mirror,
and there she was-

a Mom in the drivers seat stopped at the stoplight, dancing and singing, with her precious, giggling children.  The joy in her eyes and theirs was my glimpse of home!

That was her home painted beautifully on her drive home, and that has been my home on many car rides.  
This was home- this was freedom.
Home is wherever you have the freedom to be 100% YOU!  
That is what makes home so powerful.
At Home there is such a joy in letting that guard down that sometimes we hold up way too high.
At Home, only our spouse and children know who we really are.
In reality, anytime I'm with family, no matter where it is-

 I am Home.

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What I'm Reading...

What I'm Reading...

You will love the following post,  I did!  ;)

Click on the (in) courage link below and be in-couraged!

Five Minute Friday} "Ordinary"

It has been a not so ordinary day.
It's actually been a not so ordinary past year, 
the world around me spins with uncertainty, 
and some fear of whether I've made,
or am making good decisions as a Wife and Mother.
I sometimes take a moment, 
close my eyes, 
and just try to breathe in the ordinary, 
I just want an ordinary day!  Please!
Jesus whispers in my heart that
Ordinary doesn't leave much room for growth, 
through all of this uncertainty He is anything but ordinary.
And because He is anything but ordinary
I can trust that He will make my sometimes not so ordinary days
into a beautiful masterpiece...
all His own!

"He knows that what may be a tremendous blessing for you later could completely wreck your life now.  For this reason, though the Lord hears your prayer, He often pauses to give you time to prepare for that blessing" - Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries

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