When You Make a Map and Go Out Looking For (His) Treasure...

It was several years ago at a writer's conference in California that I first saw this little book... I was drawn to it, but I confess - I did not buy it. Not then.  Not for a year or so actually. It scared me. At first glance, this was not my kind of book.  I am an introvert not an evangelist.  I am not your average street corner preacher... even if I do have sidewalk prophet tendencies.  

Mostly, I whisper it quiet... I hear from God.  I say it hushed at first because it can seem strange, be misinterpreted, make people feel uncomfortable - but is this not what should be breaking our hearts?

God WANTS to be heard.  He is speaking to us - all of us - in our every days and He desires that we catch the tune of the melodic love song that He is constantly singing over us.  I don't always hear it, oh but when I do...  When I do, I remember that He is singing all the while and once again I let Bossy Lists, multi-tasking, earthly chatter, every day living, and all the noise crowd out His still small Voice.  I don't mean to... it just happens!  

Eventually this little book found it's way to me.  My little group of Happy Intercessors read through it slow several years ago.  Only one or two of us were bold and excited to approach strangers; the rest of us were scared... more than a little shy and unsure!  But here's the deal... we were kindred and we knew we each heard from God! We had spent years tuning in to His heart and practicing quieting ourselves to hear Him speak while gathered together. 

So at the end of each chapter... we would pull out a piece of paper, and pray - and write down "clues"... we didn't wait long... didn't over-analyze it... just wrote down the random things that entered in to our minds.  Next we would share our lists and make a Treasure Map... and then the fun would begin. Sure - knees knocking and half hoping we would come up empty-handed, but fun was at the center of our search as we headed out in teams to bless our city because here's the deal - here is the message of that book:

Find people and tell them that God treasures them!

Simple... no pressure, no twisting arms, no doom and gloom...

just show them the Map, tell them that we were sent there to find them and let them know how crazy in love He is with them, and then offer to pray!

Easy Peasy. 

I share that here because other than a handful of times, I haven't done that on purpose - with intention - for quite awhile and just like with anything, if you don't practice it can feel like you are starting from zero all over again. (Hint - It may feel like it, but you aren't! You have all that past experience behind you now... all those testimonies and treasures found to stir you up!)

Last week, during Soar (the Bible college/BSSM satellite school we attend) we went out on a treasure hunt.  I teamed up with My Honey and another friend Steve, and we prayed, made our maps and hit the road looking for whomever God would highlight to us.  This is literally taking the call He gave me to another level... to Speak Life, to Be Love, to Shine On... This puts feet on that statement and my how I fight off fear of man, but I lean in and do it anyway! I am learning that we just need to do it! Do it brave, or do it scared, but for the love - let's just do it! (Nike got that right!)

So - here is a peek at my Map...

 

We set out on foot because last Wednesday it was Gorgeous, ya'll - and one of our clues was park.  There were two within walking distance and we assumed with it being so nice, there would be people out enjoying the near-summer like weather!

The park was empty... but another clue was Bird bath, which this park had.  Then we noticed three people sitting on their front stoop across the street from the park, and they had a Black (rod iron) Fence on the porch, which was also on our Map.  We approached them a bit shyly, asking them about a car accident that had just happened in the park the week before.  They were ready to share their experience and how the accident had impacted them.  We then explained what we were doing and that we felt that God led us to them... that they are treasured by God and so very loved.  They remained open and we were able to pray simply for one need, and then another, and then another.  At one point when my Honey was sharing more things on his Map, one of the men asked, "Who have you been talking to?"

"God.  We've been talking to God!" was the only answer to give.

In talking of physical issues, neck pain was on our Map and the gal had already had two surgeries and was going in for a third.  She let me lay my hands on her and pray... twice... as she felt heat go through her body and pain leave.

Yes... God.  We've been talking to God.  The God who loves... who heals... who sees.

As I wrapped up my prayer for her neck, I heard Him whisper a word of encouragement for her, and as I shared that, she began to cry... nodding her head, trying to believe that what He said about her was true. We saw Hope begin to unfold as we walked away, looking for more people to bless.

"For God so loved the world... that He gave His only Son..."

He is giving still...

P.S.  Speaking of giving... (ya see what I did there?) If you want to help be an encounter... to put some feet on 'Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.' in a different way, we are still raising funds for Phase 2 to help build a Community Kitchen and Welcome Center in South Africa.

For more info, or to join with us... with Him... and give, click here:

I'm linking up with:
Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

Holley Gerth for #CoffeeforYourHeart

and Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

When was the last time you heard (or sensed, felt, discerned) God speak your name or sing over you? Have you ever? What kind of God Encounters have you had, and have you ever BEEN one for someone?

More than anything you hear today - more than any words that I can write... I want you to hear Him speaking... to hear His words over you... singing and sinking into your heart!

He LOVES you... you are His Treasure!

It's time to tell the truth about motherhood by Lisa-Jo Baker

The thing is, moms are tired.

They're also confused a lot of the time.

And they feel lost, like the days before GPS when we used to print out directions from Map Quest - like actually print them out on paper - and then just as you were glancing down at the paper the exit flew by you.

That kind of lost.

And there's a lot of noise. From competing opinions and books and parenting magazines and websites and other parents and especially from inside their own homes where all the loud, loud, wildly noisy, loud children live.

And moms, they wake up after having spent a night being woken up and they walk out into all that loudness and confused lost chaos.

They do it with eyes still squinting at the light, scrabbling for contact lenses or glasses and a cup of hot tea with plenty of sugar.

They try to make sense of the math homework they're supposed to send back completed with their kid and they feel more proud of the three spelling sentences they got the one who weeps over English homework to write than they ever could have imagined in the days when they used to sleep in till noon.

There were days they used to sleep in.

They can't remember those days anymore.

Their bodies are programmed to wake up at o'toddler dark thirty even when they're on vacation.

They have degrees and life dreams and grand plans for who they planned to grow up into. Maybe part of that included being a mom. Maybe they always wanted to be a mom but never realized how unexciting it can be a lot of the time. Well that can get them a bit lost. It can leave them feeling out in the deep, dark, overgrowth and it can be scary.

It can be lonely.

It can feel like a hamster wheel on repeat and then repeat again.

And they don't understand why everyone else seems to understand what they're doing.

They don't understand how other mothers are functioning at such a high level of normalcy while they are also waking up with a nursing infant. How do they do it?

Two of the loneliest years of my life were the first two of motherhood.

When I looked around me in amazed wonder at the mothers who arrived at playdates and church with blow dried hair and beautifully put together children and attitudes.

I was so lost inside my own skin. So desperately confused about who I was supposed to be; what I was supposed to look like. The things I was supposed to say. I watched the moms around me and I mimicked how they cooed over their babies in the praise and worship at a Sunday morning service. When I would have been more than happy to have slept in - half starved for sleep - and left the praise to his grandparents and done my own worship at the thought of two consecutive hours of sleep.

Not one mom in two years told me she found it hard. That it wasn't easy or natural or normal to suddenly be in charge of another human being.

And I smiled and smiled and smiled and said very little because I was working so hard at fitting in.

Looking back, I feel so sad for that new mama. I want to reach back through time and over and just squeeze her knee and tell her, "It's going to be OK. It's normal to feel this tired. It really is. It gets better."

I want so badly for someone to tell her the truth about the exhaustion and how hard nursing can be and that everyone who looks so put together at church -- there are none of us immune from the meltdowns and feelings of inadequacy. I want so badly for someone to take her aside and ask how she's really doing. For someone, anyone, to mentor her and admit their own hard days. To be willing to go first. To tell her how frustrated they were at the thought of even beginning the tedious process of trying to leave the house.

I want someone to ruthlessly admit to her that they don't have it altogether.

That's where you come in.

You can tell the truth.

That we're most of us lost. And that's OK.

It's OK if we're in it together. Grab another mom's hand today. Or pass her the coffee or a slice of cake. Or just a nod as you maneuver your cart around her in Target, at the checkout, in line outside the preschool.

Or better yet, say it out loud. Tell her. Throw a life presever of words in her direction.

Be a wildly encouraging truth teller by inviting her over on the days when your house isn't perfect. When your temper's not in tact. When your kids aren't behaving.

Invite her into your real inside life.

And watch how it makes you both feel better. Braver. Ready for tomorrow.

{To see the video reminder of why mothers are braver than they know, click here}.

This guest post comes with love from Lisa-Jo Baker to our community in celebration of Mother's Day. If you haven't already - treat yourself, your mom, your sister, your BFF or your grandma to a copy of her new book, Surprised by Motherhood: Everything I Never Expected About Being a Mom. No matter what stage you're in when it comes to motherhood, we promise it will encourage. And remind you that you are braver than you think.

What I Learned in April...

I know - I am like a broken record when it comes to this link up... it's time for "What I Learned..." over at Emily Freemans' place!  It's a super fun (some silly, some serious) chance to look back and list off random things that we have learned in the past month!  For most of us - well, we have great intentions of keeping a running list... seriously ya'll? That rarely has happened with me, so if you are thinking you would like to play along but can't remember - refer back to all sorts of social media and remind yourself what you learned and work from there! That is totally what I am doing (again!)

So - here we go!  Let's see what I learned...

Random Things that I learned in April:

1. I learned that when someone calls and requests a commissioned prophetic art piece - just pray and jump in, and then don't stop!  It had been months since I have pulled out the paint and cleared off my creative space.  I haven't done too many commissioned works so far, so it turns out I am not so good at price setting or - well, coming off professional at all.  However, I prayed and instead of second guessing (because, you know, I gave up Self-Doubt and all...) I just dove right in and got my hands in the paint.  I was so happy with the end result, but even better than that is my client was thrilled.  The message God gave is having a ripple effect in the family and the gift just keeps on giving!  In fact, after I finished that painting... I didn't want to stop - so I created a couple more canvases! Let's make art!

(This one is mine... I can't show the commissioned piece because it is a gift!)

But I am so glad that I didn't stop creating once the creativity was flowing!

2. I learned that sometimes, the goals you set for yourself can be met ahead of time when the reward is not only climbing to the top, but drinking in the views...  My Girlie and I have started a new workout routine.  We go on walks.  Seriously - after her morning classes, and before she has to go to work - we pull on some shorts and tennis shoes and hit the road.  Usually about 3-4 miles and I love it because, hello - that is an hour of talking with my Girlie! Plus - bonus - we live in a gorgeous little town! We had thought of slowly increasing our routes but when the orchards at the top of the hill were all in bloom overnight, they beckoned us to come up higher and we pressed on just so we could see it all up close!

3. I learned that when a friend is moving and offers you her new desk for a great deal, it's gonna require some long overdue cleaning and organizing of All The Desk Things!  A friend of mine was moving and had no room for her pretty sweet modern looking computer desk... she offered it to me and I said yes without hesitation because, mine was from the 90s... with a CD tower... because we're cool like that! So - I (finally) cleaned out our old desk and got rid of all the old pc games like Pajama Sams, Myst, and Nancy Drew... making room for my new (to me) desk and chair and realized 'modern' means no storage... but still - I love it!

4. I learned that not everyone is so blessed to be able to gather together for Easter Sunday but if you are, take a family portrait!  Even if the Littles don't want to! Also, it must be taken within two minutes or melt downs will occur!

5. I learned that when one of your oldest dearest friends says she needs to get out of town... you just go! I have this group of friends who I have sort of grown up with! Not literally, I guess - but we all met when we were in our 20's... new to marriage and motherhood, and we have raised our Littles together.  One of said friends had been in and out of hospitals and doctors offices with her parents and she just needed a change of scenery and maybe some laughing... definitely some laughing! We have amazing Honeys who just said "Go!" and so we packed up our bags on a Sunday night and left town on Monday... just a quick overnighter but oh how it was needed!  Those impromptu trips are the best! 

6. I (re)learned that I really, really love to set a pretty table and host a gathering!  Bonus when it's #inRL!  From the crafty parts to the menu planning to the gifts and prizes to the praying and inviting and praying some more... I love it all!

7. I learned that even though I sort of have a Thing for All. The. Books. - I must pace myself and remember to not do all my reading on the Interwebs, but actually pick up a real live book! I was on a few Book Launch Teams for the past couple of months and - wow... 

8. I also learned there are a LOT of amazing books coming out this year! I loved both of these... 

9. I learned that when one steps up and decides to teach together, side by side, and talk about parenting and marriage, well - One (or both) should expect to be tested and tried on just how awesome your communication and connection really is because the enemy of our souls is nothin' if he ain't consistently crappy! I also relearned the power of "I love you" and "I'm sorry!"

 10. I learned that even though I am not a phone person, I LOVE Voxer!  I was the last hold out... everyone said how amazing it was and I was like - but it's like the PHONE and I can't... but turns out that I can! I may still ramble a bit and forget what I am saying - but still... super fun!

11. I learned that I love our Arboretum... mostly, in the Fall - because - well:

But lookie what it looks like in the Springtime:

See?  Gorgeous!

12. I learned that Tim Hawkins is stinkin' hysterical Live and in person...  We decided at the last minute that we would splurge and buy tickets for all three of us! We love to laugh and routinely watch comedians together - but it's tough to find ones who we feel confident that we can see perform live and not be horrified... We see Brian Regan live at any chance... and love Angela Johnson... several others too - but this was at a church so... we were just hoping it wouldn't be too - uh - churchy funny? Ya know? It was two solid hours of catch your breath laughing!

So - what about you? What did you learn last month? Silly, serious - informative or fun... share the wealth! After all, knowledge is power, right?

I am Linking up with EMILY FREEMAN

Join us!

Seriously, what did you learned in April, ya'll?  

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 42

Hey ya'll!  Happy Weekend!  Can you even believe MAY is here? I pray you are experiencing at least a little taste of Spring... some blue skies, flowers and trees in bloom, a little sunshine to warm your skin.

Life slowed down a little this week, with less Bossy Lists of Things To Do and more laid back reading time, however most of that was spent with real live actual books, made of paper - old school style! I have a serious STACK of awesome and I 'forced' myself to slow down this week and indulge! 

Still - I am here for you, my people... and I have gathered some Awesome from across the Interwebs for you to enjoy! So let's dig in...

Happy Reading!

* This one by Lisa Jo Baker in which she prays for herself... for all of us... because, of course!  "Life to the full. I want it with both hands. A life line that keeps slipping through my ridiculous grasp. Grab my hand Father before I slip and slide my way to the bottom of a pit so black I can’t see my hand in front of my red and foolish face.  Rescue me from myself."

* This post by Aliza Latta over at Incourage.me on The Day That (she) Saw Jesus. (Get your tissues ready!) "Long tears streamed steadily down my cheeks as I hugged her closely. But I witnessed love that day.  I saw love.  Jesus holds me, holds her, holds you, and whispers: You are redeemed. You are forgiven. You are set free."

* This one, by Lisa-Jo Baker (yes, again... because - well, it's my blog and I love her. And you will do too!) over at Lysa TerKeurst blog on Mother's Day for the Motherless Mother... "My mom used to dance in the mornings.  A happy, shameless jig in her PJs right out there in the driveway as my dad drove us off to school. She’d dance and wave and grin and I could feel the love well up from my toes to my nose. It spilled out of me – this being someone’s daughter. Loved. Cherished. Celebrated."

* This one by Deidra Riggs with an invitation to enter into Rest...  "I want to tell you to get some rest. I want to hold your gaze for more than ten seconds, while you’re racing off to the next thing, or trying to multitask, or wondering why you keep getting knots in your shoulders or a pit in your stomach. I want to be emphatic, even though being emphatic about rest seems like an oxymoron."

* This post by Jennifer Dukes Lee over at Emily Wierenga's blog, on 15 Things Every Mother Should Tell Her Daughter... "Dear Daughters,  There are approximately 10,952 things I want you to know, but these 15 are the ones I absolutely pray that you will never forget."


* This post by Emily Freeman over at Chatting at the Sky for her monthly Link-Up, What We Learned (in April)... Normally I give a sampling but the fun of this is not just Emily's post but all the Linky Love too! However, I have three words for you from her list:  Sharpie Gel Highlighters (You're welcome!)

* This post by David Henson (which is not new, but it's new to me this week) on the 6 Things The Church Can Learn From Jimmy Fallon... "The Church could learn a few things from Jimmy Fallon, the new host of the "Tonight Show." And it’s no surprise, really. Jimmy has said in interviews he once wanted to be a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and was influenced early in life by his experiences as an altar boy. But he never felt he could really be a priest because he couldn’t keep a straight face. As a priest myself, it’s always good to be reminded that our image in culture is often a dour one when it should be a joyful one."

* This post right HERE from Abiding Love, Abounding Grace where I write an (in)RL recap and count gifts at the same time! ""Your Story Matters..."  Not just the pretty (or prettied up) parts, but the whole! Not just the part where everyone came and it was awesome, but the truth of how some didn't come, couldn't come, wouldn't come - but He was there anyway!"  (Plus another post HERE, in which I am hosting a  Giveaway for Rhinestone Jesus!) 

Finally... our video! Because that is how we do... and because we love Jimmy Fallon (see above!), Emma Stone (because, of course!), Pinterest (hello?), and a shout out for Mom Bloggers... here ya go:

So - what did you think? Had you read these yourself already?  Did you find something that is not listed above? If so - share some Linky Love in the Comments below!

In Which we Get Real about our Mess - Five Minute Friday

I wasn't gonna write. I mean, sure - I know it's Five Minute Friday and I can't remember when I actually missed writing a post... surely, I have.  But even though I may miss out on a little Thursday night party, I rarely miss out on writing a prompt (who can't find 5 minutes, right?) and linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and the incredible Gathering of Awesome that happens at her place every Friday! But, I posted a lot already this week... an #inrl recap/#1000gifts post, and two book reviews (one for Rhinestone Jesus - where you can win a copy, and one for our own Lisa-Jo's Surprised by Motherhood) so by Thursday night, it felt like you had heard enough from me... and yet... here I am, sharing my Mess. Because we are all about keeping it real, yes?

Oh but - first - the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

So - here goes: Five Minute Friday - The Word Prompt is: MESS

{GO}


So - we're gonna be all real and open and talk about our Messes, eh?  

Well alrighty then! 

I have talked about the Messes before... I like to think I am open and honest around these parts and while I may not air my dirty laundry, I at least keep it real enough to let ya know I have dirty laundry... but what my Mess is really wrapped up in this week is the clean laundry, (in piles... always unfolded and dug through.)

Cleaning the bathtub, vacuuming the stairs, and folding my laundry... those are my top three worst chores.  I am blessed and my Honey is amazing and he usually does the tub and the stairs, but those clothes... they are mine and I can find myself some clean clothes in a basket or a drawer - either way is fine with me.  But to my Honey - it is a pet peeve.  I know this... some days I stay aware of it all the way through the laundry cycle and manage to actually follow through enough to put all the clothes away.  Like - where they belong, even!  But other most days, I let them sit. I get distracted. I can't care to finish. Something else... something sparkly or fun grabs hold of my attention and I assure myself I will go back to it, but I rarely do!

I can make excuses... some of them are good ones. Some are even valid.  But it really comes down to this: I know it bothers him. Not much really gets under his skin and as I said - he's amazing at helping out. So - it should have come as no surprise when we came home (from Bible college, no less) last night - that the kitchen was a mess, the dishes piled up, the floor needed mopping, and the laundry... ugh... the laundry ya'll... 

 Now - I should back up just a little and say this... (I wrote about it here earlier I believe) - we stepped up to minister together this year.  We decided maybe we had a thing or two to teach about marriage and parenting and so really - these little miscommunications, these taken for granted's, or passive aggressive outbursts (on both our parts) while unusual for us - should not be surprising, right? I mean - it's not like we shouldn't have seen it coming!  The enemy is consistent.

After hosting #inrl last weekend, I sort of took the week off.  Not on purpose, per say - but I gave myself grace.  I pour out all week long. I am a Mama and I mother everywhere I go. 

But here is the thing:

My Honey doesn't often need or want me to mother him.  He needs me to sit with him, on a bench... and love him.  He needs me to listen and make time and show him that he is a priority. He needs me to put our college girlie to bed (or at least pretend she's asleep) and sit with him, and for the love, Do The Laundry!

You see, his is the most important Bench that I share and I can forget that.  

We are blessed with a great marriage... but the danger in that blessing is that it's so easily taken for granted!  I have repurposed in my heart this week to say Yes in my Mess (but to also just fold my clothes and put them away!)  I am intentionally slowing down, unplugging, and sitting on a Bench with my Honey to drink in Spring, and be refreshed, side by side!

{STOP}

The photo's were taken on Sunday afternoon at our local Arboretum... where my Honey and I strolled around because he knows how I love me some Springtime and a camera in hand! That Bench... simply a visual reminder to Come Away with him and sit awhile - which is what I am off to do now! (Praise God for texts and grace and I love you's and I'm sorry's - but nothing beats some face to face time, side by side.)

What about you?  What are the triggers that you could pay more attention to, or how can I pray for you to find time to sit on those important Benches?


Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "MESS"  

Surprised by Motherhood - A Book Review

When I first caught the hints that Lisa-Jo was writing a book, I knew... I just knew two things right away.  

1. It would be for all the Mama's out there... and

2. I was going to have to have it. (and probably have to buy several copies in order to get to keep one for myself!)

 I adore Lisa-Jo... I read every post on her blog and the online community both at Incourage.me and that one that gathers on Thursday nights on Twitter for her Five Minute Friday link-up are among my favorite places to hang out on the Interwebs! 

However... Surprised by Motherhood... well, to be honest, I am sort of on the tail end of mothering a (Not So) Little Nearly Grown Girlie and I didn't really expect to be reading a book on Motherhood at this stage.  

My Little Fam circa 2011

First off - I am not in the midst of mothering Littles.  I mothered one Little and she is Nearly Grown and will be leaving the Nest soon and still... I couldn't get my hands on this book fast enough! Lisa-Jo just gets it... she gets us - and she invites us in to be real and honest and to say: Yes, it's hard.  Yes, we love it - except for on the days when we don't.  Yes, it's everything and nothing that we expected it to be. Yes, we would do it again.  Yes, we deserve chocolate... yes, yes. yes!

This is less of a How To and more of a Me, Too book.  This is Lisa-Jo's story... but really, it is all of us!

(Can you even?)

Lisa-Jo walks you through the footsteps of her life in grace and beauty... the way she describes things with words will make you ache to see, to smell, to feel it for yourself, and then - when you keep reading, you could swear that you were aching, smelling, and feeling it for yourself right in the midst of these pages.  

There is a gifting that she has that builds up and encourages... a sisterhood in motherhood that simply lovingly just scooches on over and makes room.  In her brave honesty of how she has loved and lost; how she didn't want to be a Mom and then all of the sudden she did... she was; in how she shares those wretched hard days of babies and toddler years and the raw truth of having to learn to love, and forgive, and love, and... you get it... you've probably lived it too and that is the point! 

On page 30 - only page 30 - Lisa-Jo writes it clear - this ache in my heart for the season that I am in, and she is no where near it yet! I am a Mama to an Only Nearly Grown Girlie... we are in that lovely hard transition space of letting go and leaning in... the dance of becoming less Authority, more Friend.  So when I read these words... I knew! I knew that whole book through would be filled with grace and knowing - even though she has yet to Mother through the latter years of childhood and teendom.  She wrote this:

"Mothers may want to find room to breathe, to weep, to panic. But they don't want it to end --this delivering, shaping, cheering, loving, bringing life into the world."

Amen! We don't. I don't.  I don't want it to end and here is the biggest Surprised by Motherhood reality:

It doesn't!

For better (on the good days!) or worse (on the less than good ones!) - it doesn't ever end! This Mothering that leaks out and over and fills in gaps and covers over wounds... it never ends! It has become part of who we are, it's not just what we do.  

We mother because we are Mama's. We are Surprised by Motherhood because who knew a human being could have this capacity to love so fiercly... to protect and serve... to care for a tiny (or not so tiny) human, even when we feel so unable, unworthy, unqualified? Who knew God could work through a sleep deprived, cranky post pardom Mama, and rock us all deeper and deeper in love at 3a.m.?  Who knew that somehow - having your very heart beating on the outside of you changes how you breath and move and changes what you hope for and cling to? Who knew staying up late, listening for a text or a front door while trying to remain calm and collected was a life skill that one has to practice and learn in order to get 'good' at? Who knew our own children would break our hearts time and time again and all the while, we bind theirs up, offer grace and a safe place to land, and point them to Jesus?  He knew... that's right.  He always knew!

I am Surprised by Motherhood every day - by how I know deep down in my bones that I was made for this.  Whether I am mothering my Girlie, friends, family... neighbors, strangers, readers in the Interwebs... Mothering is what comes out... it is all grace and compassion and laughter and hugs... and it is Jesus, every single time.  

So whether you are a Mom, you have a Mom, or you know a Mom... Surprised by Motherhood should be at home on your bookshelf and in your gift closet... this book needs to be given on Mother's Day and at every Baby Shower from here on out because what we must know... what we must remember is that this Motherhood thing? We don't have to go it alone!

He's got you.  We've got you... and there is room on our bench, and we'll even share the chocolate!