Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Na na na na na nana)

May 24, 2018

Will Smith posted a video on Instagram the other day of him in the studio for the first time in 13 years. Granted, the video was to clear up divorce rumors, but the 90s tween inside me was already jumping up and down.

I love the 90s. They were THE BEST! You could understand rap songs, FRIENDS was fresh and not in reruns yet, Umbro shorts and tall tube socks were all the rage, and Dunkaroos still existed. I have no idea on the "important" stuff like political climate or the economy (I was 10 years old in 1994), but I do know Bill Clinton played the saxophone with Fleetwood Mac, and I pretended to know every single word to the Macarena...even the Spanish ones.

So, let's reminisce about how awesome the 90s were together. Grab a Surge and "hold onto your butts!"

Speaking of Surge...
This sugary concoction could turn up any 6th grade Christmas party in a matter of minutes. It was my favorite for about a month because that's seriously all your digestive system could take.

Hanson. Ok, I'm super biased because I was going to marry Taylor, but they were awesome. And news flash, they're still awesome.

Plaid skirts. Baby doll dresses. Platform tennis shoes. Butterfly clips. OMG. Take me back! Thankfully, the current generation of teens think this stuff is all new, so places like Forever 21 and H&M are starting to carry them again! This article sums up everything that was truly wonderful, and this collage of Rachel Green sums it pretty nicely.

Will Smith. Come on...the Fresh Prince! Big Willie Style was the only rap album I've ever (and will ever) owned.

Tamagotchis and Giga Pets. Mine was a Little Mermaid Giga Pet! I have no idea what happened to it, and I'm pretty sure I killed Ariel. 😑

I could seriously write a thousand blogs about my favorite things as a 90s kid. I haven't even gotten to Barbie yet, and I could probably write a small book about Ms. Barbara Millicent Roberts.

What are some of your 90s favorites?

No Gifts Necessary

April 24, 2018

While perusing Facebook last week, I came across a mom blog titled "5 Things You Should Know About a 'Please, No Gifts' Birthday Party". The blog (originally posted here) immediately caught my attention. My youngest turns two on Saturday, and I had just put "Gifts are not necessary! Just come and have fun!" on the invites, and I genuinely meant it. 

As I read the post, a sense of validation came over me. So, other moms are over birthday presents too? I'm not mean and horrible for asking people not to bring my child presents? It's like I was getting a virtual high five. Don't get me wrong. I am super grateful we have friends and family that adore our children enough to buy them gifts, but our house is out of control. We have more toys than we have room, and I'm worried our children are going to turn into that Ryan kid from YouTube, if we aren't more careful. 

When I tell you not to bring any toys, I truly mean it. Trust me. Our children are not deprived. They'll get gifts from us and grandparents. But from friends and extended family, they don't need things. They just need fun! Come and play the games. Come and stuff yourself with food (because our parties always have killer spreads). Come and eat a plate full of cupcakes. One of my favorite birthday memories is watching my friends stuff french fries up their noses while my mom took pictures of them and everyone laughed until they cried. I can't remember a single gift I got that day, but I can remember how ridiculously awesome that party was. (Did I mention my mom took pictures?)

If you just absolutely can't stand coming without something, take the original blogger's advice and bring something like one of the following:

• A card your child has colored, glued, cut and made just for the birthday kiddo
• A card that sings or lights up
• One (1) balloon – could even be new, uninflated balloon taped to a homemade card!
• A printed photo or hand drawing of your child and the birthday boy/girl
• A “coupon” for a playdate

I guarantee you my children will love any of these, and I'm pretty sure any other child will too. Let's show our kids how to enjoy the moments because I promise they'll thank us for it later. 

Parent Fail 101

April 5, 2018

This morning, as I'm wrestling my nearly two year old during a diaper change, my four year old comes running in the room. He's naked as a jaybird and waving his tiny underpants in the air while yelling, "Look! They've got Buzz Lightyear on them!" After declaring how amazing they were, he sat down and immediately started pulling them up his little legs. For most kids, putting on your underwear is a pretty normal ritual. Around ages 2-3, children have developed the basic gross motor skills needed to dress themselves. By ages 4-5, they usually put on their own shoes and socks. For my kiddo, it's just not happening, and we (his parents) are totally the reason why.

He was our first. We were very naive and very busy. We both worked and were usually scrambling to get from one place to the next. In the process, we ended up doing everything for this child. We fed him. We dressed him. We cleaned up for him. And now, we're kicking ourselves a little bit. Dressing a 43 pound, 3 and 1/2 foot toddler is a major workout and can be extremely frustrating. So, when he put his underwear on right side out and not backwards this morning, I saw it as an opportunity. "Alright man! Good job! You did that so well. Do you think you could go find some pants and put those on too?" He was in his room sifting through drawers before I had finished the question.

He ran back with a pair of shorts in hand and pulled them on all by himself. He was super proud of himself, so I directed him to his shirts. He picked one out and brought it too me. He also picked out shoes and socks. He needed help with all three, but I didn't care. He fought half the battle without putting up a fuss, and I was ecstatic! What made it even better was seeing what pieces he had picked out for himself. His shorts were navy, and he had picked a black, Lightning McQueen shirt. His socks were gray and covered in Pokemon, and he requested to wear his favorite navy boots. The final touch was a straw fedora with a blue and white ribbon covered in stars.


It's really tough to admit a parenting fail. In doing so, we have to own up to making a mistake, and people just love doing that don't they? I know this is my fault, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Instead, we're going to learn from it. We're gonna work on it one small step at a time!

What's something you wish you had done differently? Share it and help other parents in their journey!

#boylife

March 16, 2018

I was raised as an only child in a single parent home. Growing up with my mom was glorious! We lived in a split level home (that she bought - #girlpower) on a quiet street in a typical Southern town. Out of three bedrooms, my toys and I occupied two. My playroom was filled with Barbies, Barbie houses, and Barbie accessories. My bedroom was wall to wall Disney princesses. It was the perfect girl room. Shades of pink covered everything from my walls to my clothes. My mom's room was equally amazing. Her bed was adorned with fluffy, decorative pillows. Her dresser displayed a beautiful, wooden jewelry box and delicate picture frames. Our kitchen and bathroom had the towels you can use and the towels you're not supposed to use. The fridge was consistently stocked with Diet Coke. We even had a Little Debbie drawer - because cold Fudge Rounds are the bomb. Our haven of femininity was practically perfect in every way, and I couldn't wait to have a home of my own one day to mimic this perfection.

In 2005, I married my Prince Charming, and I was so excited to set up house. My plans were extensive and included an embarrassing amount of picture frames. We registered for beautiful towels and the cutest plate set. We painted the walls and picked out the most awesome wallpaper I had ever seen for the kitchen. Everything was going smoothly...until we actually moved in together.

Y'all...boys are gross. Like, really gross, and I had no idea. They leave stuff everywhere. They USE the towels you're not supposed to touch. They don't like to sleep under fluffy comforters and decorative throw pillows. They constantly question your sanity when you put all the chocolate in the fridge. My new, co-ed life was a shock! My plans weren't going well at all! For my own sanity, I immediately put away the breakable knick-knacks and fancy towels. There's only so many times you can find dirty finger smudges on a decorative towel before you lose your mind. "I'll use these another day," I would tell myself. Well, another day continually got postponed, and the majority of the girly things I had grown up with were either packed up or given away. Not because my husband made me (because believe me...that would be another story for another day), but because an apartment filled with game consoles and Star Wars books just didn't jive with Gone With the Wind posters and floral duvet covers.

After several years and two moves, we became pregnant with our first child, and I just knew it was going to be a girl. I quietly began planning a female rebellion. If this kid is a girl, we've got this. The husband will be outnumbered. We will have throw pillows! There will be wall to wall picture frames! We'll buy all the pink things! But at 16 weeks, the ultrasound tech sided with the other team and told us we were having a boy. While overjoyed at having a healthy baby boy, my dreams of restoring some femininity to the house were lost. Over the next four and half years (and with the addition of a second baby boy), our house became a toddler bachelor pad. My living room is filled with diecast cars, building blocks, trains, and plastic animals. My bathroom is covered in pee. Seriously, COVERED. My dining room table is adorned with Lightning McQueen place mats, and my all of my extra closet space is filled with tiny Polo shirts and novelty tees.

But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. Sure, I see the bedding section at Target and yearn for pinker days, but my cheese puff-eating toddler sitting in the buggy screaming for more snacks always brings me around. Isn't it funny how we think we know what we want, but God knows better? We make frilly, pink plans and He laughs. He knew exactly what I needed and how to get me there. My boys - husband included - have changed me for the better. Our home may not be full of fancy pillows and towels, but it is full of equal parts love and happiness. One day, when my sweet boys leave the nest, I'll have my chance. I've watched enough Fixer Upper to think I'm the Joanna Gaines of the Southeast, and it also helps that all of my husband's things have already been pushed into one room because...toys. (Am I right? So. Many. Toys.) But for now, I'm happy as clam, and I'll take my home just as it is.

#NeverAgain: Our Children Deserve More Than This

February 16, 2018

I'm not an overly political person. In fact, I do my best to steer clear of most political conversations - both online and in person. It makes me extremely uncomfortable to discuss my personal political beliefs. The drama associated with these conversations is wildly unsettling.

Over these past days, I've watched in horror as a community mourns 17 children and teachers who mercilessly lost their lives at the hands of one of their own. In the midst of the greatest heartache, a community is pleading for change. I sit and listen to the stories of their last moments with their children, and I'm heartbroken with them. I sit and look at my babies completely scared that I'm going to lose them in a senseless act of violence. They're so little. They're so innocent. They should be safe at school, but they're not.

My fear turns into frustration. Frustration is a catalyst for noise. I can feel myself wanting to post - wanting to scream through social media about what I think should happen next. But I don't, because I already know what to expect.

It's a gun problem.
It's a heart problem.
It's a Trump problem.
It's a devil problem.
Enough with your thoughts and prayers.
Send up all your thoughts and prayers.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are literally exploding with opinions. People, friends, family - they're firing back at one another with the nastiest memes and comments. Everyone is talking, but it feels like no one is listening. It feels like everyone is shouting, but no one is coming up with solutions. So, going against my usual stance on political postings, I want to start a conversation. I want all of my friends and anyone else who reads this to put emotion and political affiliation aside and discuss some real, hardcore solutions.

Here are the facts.

The 2nd amendment is real. Whether you agree or disagree with the right to bear arms, it is one of our rights as an American citizen. Is it outdated? Most definitely. It's one of the originals, and our fore fathers weren't exactly thinking ahead to the kind of turmoil our society has created. In order to get rid of it, 2/3 of states have to agree to give it the boot. (Trust me, that's the easy way of saying it. The full description of how to ratify the Constitution is here.) Do you remember the last presidential election? (Of course you do.) Do you really think America would vote in favor of giving up their right to bear arms?

Any gun laws put into place will have to pass all branches of the government. This includes the Supreme Court. Which means, these laws cannot - in any way - infringe on the 2nd amendment. Again, whether you agree or disagree with it, it is a right. Like any other right, the courts are sworn to uphold it.

While the 2nd amendment does give the right to bear arms, it does not specify the types of arms we are allowed. There are already laws in place that strictly outlaw and monitor ownership of automated weapons. There are also laws that outlaw certain magazines and accessories that can make a semi-automated weapon more like an automated weapon. Personally, this is where I think we can make some major progress. Without abolishing or changing the 2nd amendment, we'll have to work around it by further limiting magazine sizes and terms of use for semi-automated weapons. By limiting where and when these guns can be used, we have a better chance at keeping tabs on them. Guns that are used for protection, like in the home, would have extremely limited bullet/magazine limits. Guns that are used for hunting would be registered for hunting and would be heavily monitored by law enforcement during the different hunting seasons. Guns used as a hobby at ranges would be kept at the ranges - locked and only available while at the range. You would still own your gun and would be required to maintain it, but you wouldn't be allowed to keep it at home.

I'm not an expert, and I don't even want to talk about this. Some of the example solutions I have above may already be in place or may not work at all. But, we have to talk about this. As a society, we have to get better.  Our kids deserve more than what we're giving them. They deserve safety. They deserve a chance. I plan to send these suggestions and more to our state representatives. If they don't make headway in making the changes we need, I'll vote for someone who will. I encourage you to do the same. If enough of us speak up, there's no way they can't listen. But while you're speaking up, remember what the purpose really is here. If we spend all of our time throwing punches and trying to prove how our opinion is the right and only opinion, then we leave no time for actual change.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29

New Year, Still Grateful

January 11, 2018

Yesterday, I was on the phone with a marketing vendor we're attempting to use for my family's restaurant. Since my background is in media buying, it only makes sense that I'm working to help set up a demo with this vendor to see if they're a good match for us. Unlike my buying days, I've been extremely unorganized on calls and emails. After a few interactions yesterday, my stomach was in knots. The anxiety of one little media buy had my anxiety through the roof.

"That vendor was so annoyed with me."
"Were those terms right?"
"Oh no, I need more time on that demo."
"Is this really a good fit?"

My head was going nuts and was consumed with the most ridiculous thought processing. I was surely on the verge of having some sort of anxiety attack. I remembered, this is how it always used to be. I always felt like this before I left the advertising agency I had worked for right after college. My stomach was always upset. My mood was always anxious. My temperament was always short. My main goal was always to get the best deal and to be impressive. Advertising isn't the most humbling  business. You're skills are always on display, so it makes sense that you always work hard to look good - to your boss, to your co-workers, and to your vendors.

As I reminisced, I became so grateful. This one vendor had me on edge because of how different my life is now. I'm nowhere near the girl I was 3 years ago. She was self-absorbed. She was haughty. She was more concerned about herself than others, and she was awful. Sure, she was more organized and could've wrapped that deal up in a handful of emails and calls, but I definitely don't miss her. In the last 3 years, my whole heart has changed. I barely recognize my old life, and I'm so thankful for this new one. 

God has changed me for the better. He's taken my soul and made it into something beautiful. I come back to this transformation again and again because instances like this constantly remind me of how much better my life is with Him in it. My current self is all because of His love, mercy, and boundless grace. I will write an infinite number of blogs, journals, Facebook posts, etc about His transformation because I will forever be thanking Him for the evolution my heart has experienced.

Today, I had another vendor call, but my stress has diminished. I was reminded of who I really have to impress, and I no longer want to vomit because of anxiety induced knots in my stomach. This time I was confident in the One who has made me whole.

***Disclaimer***
I would like to make it abundantly clear that not everyone in advertising is a self-absorbed mess. Like any profession, there are people who cover the whole spectrum. 

Busy Little Bee

December 16, 2017

I logged on to my website today and realized the last posts were in November. Immediately, I grimaced and realized I had forgotten to post Bible study sessions and contributor blogs. Somewhere around Thanksgiving, I lost all sense of time. My rather blank calendar became full of birthday parties, school events, special church services, overtime at work, and more. Twenty year old me would've gotten around to posting those sessions and blogs. She would've been on top of it, with energy to spare. Thirty three year old me, however, is tired. Thirty three year old me just wants to lie on the couch and binge watch The Crown.

Why is it, as we get older, we let this season get the best of us? We over-commit, over-promise, and completely over-extend ourselves. Yes, I will make those cookies Yes, I will send Christmas cards to cousins I haven't seen in a decade. Yes, I will sign up for toy drives and luncheons. While I'm saying yes to all the "stuff" that comes with Christmas, I tend to completely ignore myself. I start eating weird stuff for dinner, like strawberries and cheese...because who has time to sit for an actual meal? I go to bed later and wake up earlier...because children don't sleep past dawn, apparently. And spiritually? Don't even get me started. I've completely missed the last two sessions in the First5 app (Proverbs 31 Ministries), and I don't think I've picked up my Bible outside of church and study sessions. All around, my Christmas season lifestyle is not a healthy one. So, why do I do it?

FOMO. Fear of missing out. (Don't worry. I had to Google it the first time I heard it too.)

To quote Steven Tyler, "I don't want to miss a thing!" I love being involved and volunteering. It makes my Grinch heart grow a million sizes. But, I obviously have trouble prioritizing.  Lucky for me, I have a God that knows my mind and heart inside and out. He knows my limits, and He knows I've reached them. How do I know this? Because He told me. No, I didn't have a night startling conversation with God like Samuel (although, how amazingly awesome would that be?). He told me through love - His love through others to be exact, and this is how.

Two weeks ago, our Bible study leader gave each of us a women's devotional CD from Lifeway. I popped that sucker in on the way home, and there He was. I cried. I prayed. I worshiped the whole way home. Over the next few days, my car rides became personal study sessions and times of reflection and profession of my love for my Savior. It was precisely what I needed, but He wasn't done. Next up, He got to me through a fellow co-worker. This woman is a faithful sister in Christ, and she is severely (but lovingly) blunt. As I went over all the things I had coming up in the coming weeks, she said, "What is wrong with you? I thought you were smart! Hasn't your Bible study gone over priorities yet?" It was like God was standing right there smacking the sense into me. I tried to argue that it was my duty as a mother, friend.....blah blah blah.....yeah, she was right. He was right. It was time for me to bite the bullet and make some changes.

While my calendar is still quite full, I have rearranged it, as well my mind and heart. It's really hard to admit you can't do it all, but God's grace is the most wonderful gift. While all He wants is our love and devotion, we tend to let life get a little too much in the way. We neglect ourselves and in turn neglect our Lord. My spiritual life isn't quite back to where it needs to be, but with His help - His grace - I'm back on the right track. I'm even eating actual meals now. Before you know it, I may even get a full night's sleep! Who am I kidding...my children are definitely not going to let that happen. Let's pray for one another during this holiday season. Whether your a mom, wife, sister, friend - whatever - let's just pray. Let's pray we don't lose focus. Let's pray we don't run ourselves into the ground. Let's pray we remember we have a God that loves us no matter how busy our lives seem to get.

"The grace that saved us also preserves us. We may lose [our perspective]. But we never lose our hope. Why? Because God has His hold on us." - Max Lucado from Because of Bethlehem

Raising Boys to Respect Girls

October 16, 2017

October 11th was the International Day of the Girl. Being a boy mom, I didn't think much of it. I casually looked at posts brandishing the hashtag and went about my day. As I played with my youngest, I started making mental notes of all the things we needed to start going over with him - the alphabet, numbers, phrases, etc. My brain naturally went from educational teachings to moral teachings, and in that moment, I had a realization. Even though both of my children are boys, I shouldn't brush off recognition or celebration of girls. On the contrary, I should emphasize them.


Girls are amazing. They do hard and holy things, and they work hard to change the world. (Ann Voskamp) We have to teach our boys to value them as they value themselves. We must teach them that real men hallow women (Ann Voskamp) and vice versa. Our boys need to understand how every single person on this earth matters. Regardless of gender, we are all God's people. He made all of us in His image and loves all of our differences. Gender equality is of the utmost importance. Understanding personal boundaries is a necessity. It is our job to show them that being kind and respectful can have profound effects on our fellow human beings. When we treat each other as equals, we can work harder - together - to promote the greater good.


So, where do we start? We start at home. We lead by example. Mothers and fathers should be reverent, while working together to build up their family. We are the first and most important role models our children have. If you want your sons to grow up with full hearts and open minds, you too must have full hearts and open minds. Basically, we need to practice what we preach. We need to open our Bibles to show them how God lifted up women in history and made them heroes. We need to lead our sons through the scripture giving them examples of how the humility and love of Jesus Christ saved women in need and led them to do great and wonderful things.


No girl should live in fear. No girl should feel disrespected because of her gender. No girl should feel less than what she is - a daughter of the One True King. It is our responsibility to raise sons who understand and live out these concepts. We may not be able to change the narrative in our lifetime, but we can raise a more loving and humble generation that embraces faith and a true understanding of one another.

Eyes (and Ears) on the Prize

September 9, 2017

For the past year, I've been listening to contemporary Christian music, pretty much exclusively, while I'm in the car - well, when the tiny dictators in the backseat aren't demanding to watch Trolls or Frozen. It's not because I think listening to pop music is wrong. It's just a preference for me right now.  Trust me, there are still times when I break out the ol' Hanson or Taylor Swift playlists I have on Spotify, but for the most part my radio is on J103.

Listening to worship music centers my soul. It helps me keep a Christian perspective in a world that wants me to turn everywhere but to Christ. I am, and have always been, easily influenced by music and marketing. In order for me to keep my eyes on the Savior, I have made certain changes to ensure the right things are influencing my mind, and ultimately my behavior. Music changes my demeanor. It changes the way I talk and what I talk about. So, it makes complete sense for me to switch gears away from the Top 40.

Last week, I downloaded both of Taylor Swift's new songs. While I wasn't too crazy about them in the beginning, I've been listening to them - instead of J103. They're now on repeat in my head. They're all I hear. As I drove home last night, I found myself flipping my tuner from J103 to KISS FM to see if they were on. When they weren't, I flipped over to the other Top 40 station. Still no Taylor Swift. Frustrated, I flipped back over to J103, like it was a chore. Upon sensing my irritation, I felt instant guilt. Why? Like I said, I don't think listening to Taylor Swift or any other pop music is wrong. But still, my heart felt completely conscience-stricken.

Turning into my street, I turned off the radio. In silence I started thinking about how flipping radio stations is the perfect metaphor for Christian living. Once you accept your salvation and place your faith in Jesus, you want to do better. You want to put your whole heart and focus toward Heaven. The more you learn of God's love and how wonderful His grace truly is, the better you want to be for Him. You want to worship. You want to pray. You want to become more like Jesus because He was perfect. But, the world you know still catches your attention. Your sinful nature still calls to you, because unlike Jesus, you are not perfect. You are easily tempted. There will be times you give in and "flip to a different station". There will be times your focus changes from the Holy One to something else.

But, we are lucky. Jesus didn't leave us here without help. He left us with the Holy Spirit. He is our guide and our advocate. He helps us navigate our new life after accepting Christ.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself interjects for us with wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27

So, was my feeling of regret coming from the Spirit? Was he gently reminding me how easy it is for me to simply change stations and lose sight of what is truly most important to me? Honestly, I think so, and once again I am grateful for his guidance. He knows my heart and habits. He knew the difference between my casual station flip and this new, calculated one. He realized I needed to get back on the right station before I made any changes that would distance me from God.

With all this being said, I'm going to reiterate that my listening to contemporary Christian radio is a personal choice. I'm not in any way, shape, or form judging anyone for listening to Top 40. Every single one of us is different, which means we all have to make different changes during our walk with God. I will still be buying the new Taylor Swift album. Heck, in two weeks I'm going to the 25th Anniversary Hanson tour when they stop in Atlanta. I will scream like a teenage girl, and I will be ridiculously happy about it. But, I will keep my mind and heart attuned to the Spirit because he knows my weaknesses better than I do.

First Day of School

August 10. 2017

Yesterday, my oldest son started Pre-K. **Cue all the mommy stress.**

He did amazingly well.  He didn't cry at all.  Honestly, I don't think he cared one iota when we left. It made my heart both sorrowful and super proud. Obviously, we've done something right, but oh man do I long for the days he would cling to my leg when I was trying to get out the door. He's no longer mommy's baby. He's a big boy, or at least that's what he tells me.

Isn't it weird how our lives change? Two years ago, he was this little toddler baby with chubby cheeks and curly hair.  He needed me desperately. Now, he's walking out the door with a backpack bigger than he is and a ridiculous amount of excitement.  It took all I had not to ugly cry when we left him at school at the end of parent orientation.

Being his mother has consumed me. It does all of us who take on the roll of motherhood. We eat, sleep, and breath our children. Our goal is to raise functional human beings, but when they actually start to become those function human beings we are rendered brokenhearted.  We riddle ourselves with worry and anxiety knowing we can't be there every second to protect them. I've prayed numerous times for his safety, both physically and mentally. I've prayed he'll make friends. I've prayed he'll actually eat his lunch. You name it. I've prayed for it.

On Tuesday, I wised up and decided once and for all to pray for myself. (I know, right?) I'm sure God got a chuckle out of the plethora of terrifying movie plots running through my head. I had all but dreamed up a real life "Taken" situation involving my child, when I finally admitted I had gone too far. I threw my hands up and said, "Take this. Please."

Don't be anxious. Present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

The next morning, I was surprisingly calm. My heart wasn't heavy. It was peaceful. I wasn't crying through breakfast or first day pictures on the porch. I didn't cry as we walked him through the doors. I didn't even cry when he barely said goodbye to us going out to his first recess. I knew God would handle it. My son is His son. He loves His children and watches over them.

He tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart. He gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)

I have to constantly remind myself of God's unrelenting love for us. He doesn't want us to worry. He doesn't want us to be anxious. What on earth are we going to do through worrying ourselves sick? Absolutely nothing.

Mamas - we've got this because He's got this. Let's remind each other of this when we see each other going down the road of worry. Let's be thankful for a God that loves us and our children. Be thankful for a God who knows we're going to lose our minds on pretty much every first day of school - but will reel us back in, regardless of our shortcomings.

Disclaimer: My emotions did finally get the best of me at lunch after orientation. While sitting with my mom and my youngest toddler baby, I started to cry thinking about how we were short a feisty 3 year old. But, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my time with and without my kiddo is precious. The Spirit reminded me that a time will come when my boy will be on his own. So, I stopped crying and found peace in God again. Seriously, can I get an "AMEN!"?

W.W.J.D.

July 13, 2017

Do you remember the nylon W.W.J.D. bracelets from the '90s? They were awesome, and everyone was obsessed. If you didn't have one, you were basically shunned. Okay, not really, but you definitely didn't want to be the kid that didn't have one.

Mine was purple. I wore it every single day. The purpose of the bracelet was simple. In the midst of decision making, it would remind you to think like Jesus. What would He do in this situation? Based on some of the behavior exhibited by me and most of my pals donning these neon wrap wonders, this purpose and overall message was all but lost on us. I mean, we were 14. The formal operational stage of cognitive thinking isn't fully developed until you're 16. Since most adults have trouble grasping this message, I'm definitely not surprised that a bunch of middle school kids weren't all over it.

The small group I attend just wrapped up the Seamless Bible study by Angie Smith. The last week of the study focuses on the early church and how we, as Christians, should be living in this world - - so basically, W.W.J.D. Wow, who knew that a relic of my childhood would hold such clout in my 30s? Who knew it would take me almost 20 years to truly get it? That little bracelet suddenly became much more than an accessory. It became the reminder it was supposed to be for me.

John, Jesus' beloved disciple, didn't need this reminder. He understood that Jesus was, is, and always will be about love. He understood that to live like Jesus, we need to simply walk like Jesus. In 1 John, he gives us instructions on how to follow in the Savior's footsteps.

• Walk in light - Jesus is the Light of the World. Walk in light with Him, and you will be purified by the blood He shed on the cross to save us from God's wrath. 
• Confess our sins - He is faithful and will forgive us.
• Obey His commands - Rules are in place for a reason. Following the rules brings you closer to God. There's a reason Jesus was perfect. He obeyed the Father in everything He asked. Obviously, we're not going to be perfect, but we don't have to worry because God's grace is boundless. But, we should still try to follow His commands as closely as possible. The more you love God, the less you'll want to sin - and the more you'll want to please Him. 
• Do not love the world or anything in it - Nothing in this world can or will give you what Jesus gave you on the cross. "The world and all its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
• Love one another - the greatest commandment given to us by Jesus in John 13:34-35, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." This one is pretty straight forward. You can't walk around saying you follow Christ but ultimately hate the people around you. That's not how it works. Yes, it's very difficult to love everyone, but that's what we're tasked with. We are all sinners, and Jesus loves every single one of us. So, W.W.J.D and spread that love around. 
• Don't deny Jesus - denying Christ means you deny God. They are a package deal. You can't claim the Father without the Son. 

Now, I have no clue where to find my purple bracelet. My guess is I lost it, which strangely is metaphor for my life after the W.W.J.D. fad. While I never stopped believing in the Savior, I made zero effort to further my spiritual life and please God the Father by studying His Word and doing His work. 

I learned today via Wikipedia that the church who originally made the W.W.J.D. bracelets created a follow up campaign called F.R.O.G. These new bracelets were to be worn with the original bracelets because "What Would Jesus Do?" Well, He would "Fully Rely On God."  Isn't that nifty? At my current walk with God, this is just beautiful. And no matter where you are on your journey with Christ, it's the reminder we all need on a daily basis. 

BRB - while I go buy the grown up version of this bracelet right now.