Fear Strangles Hope

I am always humbled how a few words spoken during church can make such a drastic impact in my life....especially since a few words might be the only words I hear the entire service, courtesy of two exuberant, little squirts!

During the homily this morning, Father exclaimed, "FEAR WILL STRANGLE HOPE!"

It played in my head over and over, and was causing me to focus on many things in my life right now, but in particular, one specific thing that had actually brought tears to my eyes just moments earlier.

FEAR WILL STRANGLE HOPE

FEAR WILL STRANGLE HOPE

FEAR WILL STRANGLE HOPE

As a mom, I tend to hold onto fear when I should just let it go, give it to God, and let it be!

Fear can eat away at a heart...............

Am I raising my children as Christ would.....after all, they are HIS children?

Am I pleasing in God's eyes with my choices of discipline?

Am I always forgiving, gracious, and understanding as he ask of me?

Am I guiding my children down the right path that will make them men after God's own heart?


If you remember my post about losing my patience with Colby and delivering a not so pleasant God-awful face that was eye opening when he threw it right back at me. Why would I expect anything less....children imitate the ones they love! 

Remember this face.............

(He does tend to exaggerate a tid bit!)


It definitely isn't heartwarming to see your negative flaws displayed in your children! I chose to use it, grow, and make a change, but fear in my heart has a way of lingereing!

This morning we entered the house of the Lord and Colby dipped his fingers in the Holy Water, went down on one knee and did the sign of the cross before taking his seat, and then kneeled next to his daddy and prayed before the music filled the air!

Talk about one proud mommy!

Talk about my heart pounding!

Talk about a lump in my throat!

Talk about the tears in my eyes!

Talk about a sense of pride that released all fear from my heart!

Then the spoken words actually traveled from the alter and leaped directly into my heart!

FEAR WILL STRANGLE HOPE!


God was saying to me...........you've got this, but most importantly, I'VE GOT THIS!

Yes, there will be days that I will feel like my parenting actions have failed to display the love of Christ, but I won't let it become fear in my heart anymore, since fear strangles hope!

What an amazing gift to give my children and myself, HOPE!

I John 4:18
 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.


Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,And delivered me from all my fears.







Until Next Time..................

My Birthing Journey- Why a Natural Birth?

Why do you want a natural birth? A question I have received a few times, and I never really know how to answer it......since it's a loaded question!

If I could sit down for hours over coffee, then maybe! But, it's too difficult to answer quickly.

The question doesn't bother me at all, but usually the ones that ask have never had any interest in learning about birth, so I don't even know where to begin!

I'm definitely not saying natural is the right choice, there are no right choices....you just have to find the right choice for you! I love everything about birth, and I'm really passionate about gaining knowledge on all things birthing. I would love to become a doula.....actually I probably will in the future. Everything about birth is extremely intriguing to me, and I just can't get enough....I could read birth stories all day long, and study all about birth until I'm blue in the face!

I know not everyone else shares the same passion, so I'm not surprised when someone confusingly says, "why would you have a natural birth?" I just know that I have a different knowledge and perspective on the topic since it's an interest of mine....which is OKAY, different strokes for different folks!

There is an endless list of reasons why natural is the choice for me....

I know that any artificial interruption in birthing, even for the best of intentions, adds risks. Whenever we interfere with the normal process of birthing, we increase the risks to both the mother and her child. I also realize that all medications taken during pregnancy are passed to the baby to one degree or another.

It's about making the safest, gentlest choices for the well-being of my child, but as important as the health aspect is to me, it isn't the biggest factor in my desire to go natural.

I don't believe that birth is a medical emergency! Just like my heart knows to beat and my lungs to breath.....my body knows how to birth my baby!

The birth of my boys both included interventions for one reason or another, so I've been there and done that! I want a completely "PURE" experience with this birth.

Of course, I'm not going into this with unrealistic expectations and I'm not against intervention if it's a medical emergency, but I am preparing for the best possible chance of achieving the birth experience I desire!

I feel in my heart that natural childbirth is a gift of divine creation. It's a defining moment in our lives , a time when we meet ourselves and allow our greatest potential to be filled. I believe the soul is tied to the experience of childbirth and God uses it in a profound way. Through speaking with women about their natural birth expereince I have learned how amazing, beautiful, and completely encompassed in love natural childbirth can be!

I want a Gentle birth for baby girl. I want her to be born in peace, balance, and harmony with life. The first steps in her new little life and the experience will teach and imprint her deeply.




From a Christian perspective, experiencing natural childbirth gave me a deeper understanding into the meaning of the Bible passage, "But women will be saved through childbearing" (I Tim 2:15) This is not referring to salvation from eternal death, but to something quite different. There are many different interpretations and lines of thought on this passage. But to me it has become clear that God has used the "curse" of the Fall (for man, hard and unproductive labor in their lifework, for women, pain in childbirth) to also be our greatest blessings. Who would deny that men find some of their greatest blessings and self-identity through hard work and discovery/industry/building/etc.? And I know now that women can find some of their deepest grounding, meaning, and self-identity in the pain of childbirth. Our curse has become our blessing.  -unknown



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Today we went to Big Brother/Sister class and had a great time! Colby didn't pay much attention..surprise surprise, and when the teacher asked if there were any questions he raised his hand and asked the most important question of all, "can we have one of those cookies now?"

I will have to admit that he had some skills in the diaper changing department...I just might put him to work!!

 Chase didn't quite get his badge in the diaper changing challenge, but he sure knows how to share the love!!

  I was proud of my little graduates!

Until Next Time...............

Fill My Cup

I have really let the rat race of life make me throw a pity party for myself these last few weeks, but thank goodness my Lord and Savior knocked me over the head with some clarity!!

As you know, I've basically been a single mother while Chris has been on orders....by the way, I don't know how single mothers do it all, and when my children are older, I plan on finding a single mother and making her a ministry of mine...SERIOUSLY!

Meeting the needs of a one and three year old while I'm 33 weeks preggo without the relief of my wonderful hubby coming home has had quite a few challenges!  I have allowed those challenges to bring out the worst in my mommy abilities and I have to admit....I am so ashamed. Colby, my limit pusher, has seen better days of his mommy, for sure!

He is full of life, active is an understatment, persistently stubborn, and he is so stinking smart that he pushes me to the limit with his logical arguments. I have been losing my patience with him and getting extremely aggravated with his behavior. I know it's his temperament, age, and the fact that he really misses his daddy, but in the moment I lose sight of it all, and I behave in a manner that I know isn't grace-based and doesn't reflect the love of Christ!

In the last few days, I know my tone, facial expressions, and body language have been reflecting nothing short of EXASPERATED and that is not the message I ever want to send to my child!

On top of that, Chase is not a high-need child AT ALL, so I'm sure Colby feels as though he is to blame since the attack seems to be aimed in his direction.

Colby is not the one to blame...I AM!

I took Colby to preschool this morning and it was all weighing heavy on my heart! We said a little prayer together before getting out of the car, and then I continued to talk to the Lord as I drove home!
I love pouring my heart out to the Lord because I'm always amazed by his answers.

Long story short....he told me LOUD AND CLEAR I needed to fill my cup up more and start making it a priority.....no matter how difficult it is to find the time!

As soon as Chase went down for nap, I was on a mission to fill my cup and I did exactly what was on my heart....I knew it was God-led!

I decided to watch one of Chip Henderson's sermons, but God had a different plan! I went to Pinelake Sermons and the very first thing that caught my eyes were the words.... Life Moments! I was so drawn towards it that I knew it was a message for me. The message was from a guest speaker, and it was AMAZING!


August 7: Life Moments from Pinelake Church on Vimeo.

I'm always in awe of God and his way of carrying me through life trials! He specifically answered every single prayer I layed at his feet.....I sure do serve a mighty God!

I hope you take a moment to listen to the message....it's worth every minute of your time!




Insights from the message that God used to speak directly to me....

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift.....that's why they call it the PRESENT!

Following Jesus isn't always easy, but it's not complicated...Love God and love people!

Soak up the moment, slow down, and treasure it!

Don't just do life and miss the moments.

Remember to say each day, "I'm the most fortunate woman on Earth!"

Most importantly:

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST.
1 THES 5:16-18

Until Next Time..............