Welcome Sisterchicks!

Hola, sisterchicks! Okay, that’s enough Spanish today. Welcome to my blog. Just a starting confession: You would never believe how long it took me to get this put together. I am so technology-challenged that I crack myself up just publishing this. I’m also just stubborn enough to not ask for help and do it myself, so there ya go. More confessions. I just have to say…If I would have known how cute a blog could be, I’d have started this a long time ago. I’m absolutely loving the décor and wallpaper options. I’m such the woman that I may change it tomorrow, too. Hmmm….depends on my mood, of course. I won’t even have to ask my husband to help me move the furniture. How cool is that?

So, I begin this blog with two things in mind.
First, I absolutely love writing, and truly believe one day if the Lord should see fit, He will enable me to put together a book of devotions, and possibly a Bible study-if only to pass along to my kids. It’s the greatest way I know to pass along the heritage I hope to leave. Writing is one of my passions, and I believe that God has given me this gift to encourage others. The past year, I seem to not be such a willing vessel though. I’ve thought about that a lot lately. I think it’s because I try to tell myself that writing isn’t real work, and I should be busier doing other things-like knitting scarves for the homeless, or something that just sounds better than “writing.” (I haven’t done that either. I don’t even sew…aaah, the confessions continue!)
ADD moment: (pondering)...Did Stephen King ever feel that way? Not that I plan to write about misery or murder or anything…
Okay back to the blog: My conclusion? I think I’ve been buying into that lie too much. So, I’m gonna be writing again. Just cause God told me to! Period.

Secondly, I want to be an encourager to other women, especially other wives with husbands in ministry, and the internet is an excellent tool for this. Nobody on earth understands this life unless they are called. It’s unlike anything I can really even begin to describe. It’s often said we live in glass houses, and to a point, that’s certainly true. Most people do watch your family’s every move and comment on it. However, I think sometimes what people think they see is not who we are at all. Good and/or bad. It could go both ways. Sometimes, they think they know you and your family, what you do, how you live, etc., and yet they never get past the glass door to really get to know you. It’s easier to stand outside and critique while throwing stones. They make statements and/or accusations about how you spend your time (or not spend your time), how you should be doing more, should be involved in this, are doing this wrong, and so on. There’s also the exact contrast of that. That surely families in ministry must live such wonderful, peachy-keen, sweet, Brady lives (have every episode memorized! Hiding under a rock now.) sitting together every evening singing songs and saying “gollygee” and “groovy” to one another with such love in their hearts. I’m here to make it very clear: we are quite the contrary. Some days, I am just thankful if the raging hormones of teenagers have remained mild enough that no one was physically harmed in the making of our lives. I fuss with my husband, and we get on each other’s nerves sometimes. My kids have days they can’t stand each other, and sometimes they get bad grades. I’m a horrible housekeeper, and even though I’m a stay at home mom, I’d rather tend to a dozen babies than dust any day. So, there ya have it. I’m no “First Lady” at all. Our family is not the Cleavers. My husband is not Billy Graham. (But he’s not Ted Haggard either. Whew!) See my sick sense of humor???! Aaah!

If there’s something I can’t stand, it’s something fake. Phony. False. Untrue. We do not do the ministry OR the gospel that Christ died for any good by trying to be somebody’s ideal picture. I want to be me- warts and all. And like the T-shirt I saw the other day, “I’m the wretch the song is talking about.” If it weren’t for God’s grace, I would stay a mess. If I didn’t let people see how much God’s done in me and how faithful He’s been to me, how would they ever see just the amazing things He’s done? Yes, thankfully, I’m a work in progress, but heading the right way. Despite what I shared, I am still crazy in love with my man. We celebrate 20 yrs of marriage this year and date like we’re newlyweds. We strive to live out the truths found in the Bible in our home and teach them to our children. It’s important for us to be no different from Sunday morning to Monday morning….or the rest of the week. I also do love Jesus with all my heart. I owe my life to Him. He saved me from so much- myself included. And this process of salvation is ongoing for me. Oh, I’m eternally secure, but in all my mess-ups, I pray that God is seen as my Rock so that others will know He can be their Rock, too. When I mess up, and that will be often, I go to Him. He’s real to me. I speak to Him every morning...and He speaks to me! He’s the answer, the healing, the peace, the faithful friend, the promise, the hope, the truth, the Savior, the ONLY One. My intent is to serve Him with all my heart, and yet there are days I miss the mark. His grace is bigger than me. His grace is big enough for our family and this life of ministry. His grace is big enough for all of us, ladies.
So, whether you are a ministry wife, a church member, or just a stranger on the internet reading this, God meets us where we are. He fixes broken lives and I'm the perfect example that it's a process. He chooses to use imperfect people like me (and you) for a perfect plan of His. He blows my mind! I’ve found freedom in dropping the expectations, and just resting in authenticity. Let’s drop the role, and live the life! Buckle up for this blog….it’s gonna be an amazing ride!


Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.