Early Mornings...

Ok so let’s be honest...with 4 kids and the craziness of life, it can be a challenge to have time together...you know uninterrupted conversation, eye contact, meaningful time...And then as a result the whole family suffers...So we decided to make a change and be intentional to carve out time to connect each day. We just completed our 4th week of starting our days a little earlier together and working out before the kids wake up. And it has been SO good for our bodies, minds, hearts...and family. After 16 years of marriage, we continue to learn that marriage takes work, effort and time...and we all make time for what’s important to us. I pray our marriage & family will always be top on the list. Here’s to many more mornings together!

Thankful for her simple yes 💛

I am so thankful for Mrs Sandy Leonard and that she said “yes” 25 years ago when God prompted her heart. ♥️⠀

I have posted her brief story below if you’d like to hear more of her story...⠀

Her simple “yes” has enabled her to help thousands of moms like myself build a stable income from home. God prompted my heart to say “yes” 2 years ago when I had two toddlers around my ankles all while homeschooling my two bigs....I certainly didn’t have a spare moment in my full days. But I stepped out in faith.  One month after saying yes...my mamma ended her battle with ALS and went to be with Jesus. God was bringing precious, Mrs Sandy, into my life as He was also opening a new chapter for me and our family. Now two years later I am forever thankful I said yes.  I have a wonderful Godly mentor who prays for me and graciously offers her wisdom on all things from family to business. She is a solid rock in which my friends and I can lean our ladder on and build our businesses. I love you, Sandy! ♥️ Thank you for being so faithful to your calling these last 25 years!

What does “Happy Easter” really mean to me?

I was reflecting today on what Easter really means to me....  “Happy Easter” is such a phrase we toss around. Are people just happy it’s Easter? Happy about candy and eggs? Or to dress up for church? Is it all about being “happy”???  With the fullness and distractions of life, it often takes intentionality to really think about the things that matter most and ask why we do what we do.

So what does Easter mean to me? To me it’s all about Jesus and His love for me and what he did for me. And if I was the only one alive....He would have done it for me. What does Jesus mean to me? He means everything to me...I can’t even remember a day with out Him. I am so thankful my parents prayed with me from the day I was born, I’m so thankful for the time they spent teaching me about the peace and purpose that Jesus offers us. I know not everyone has that experience and I count it a treasured gift.  I vividly remember as a 5 year old asking my dad questions about Jesus and as a young child beginning to understand enough to know that I needed His help and I remember praying and putting my faith in Him. That was the beginning of a long and windy Faith journey for me with lots of mountain top experiences as well as deep valleys....I remember turning sweet 16, a sophomore in high school,  and being bombarded by so many social choices. I remember wrestling with my faith....would I pursue the pleasures that surrounded me? Would I explore what seemed so appetizing and satisfying? Or was Jesus better than all that? Was His purpose for my life more fulfilling than what was the most popular way to go? 

In those weeks and months, I had an amazing woman who poured into my life. She was about 10 years older than me and she began asking me the hard questions and listening to me....I knew she loved me and she was praying for me. As I wrestled, I remember laying in bed one night and making the decision that I would make Jesus Lord of my life. Lord....what does that mean? To me, it meant that He would be in charge....that I would lean into His Word and I would make Him most important. That I would trust Him with my life completely. 

Like every teenager out there, I was faced with all the temptations, but I am so thankful by God’s grace, He guided me, He protected me and He gave me strength & confidence to follow His way. As a result of following Him fully, I look back and see His hand was upon on me in the opportunities He gave me to lead others and serve others throughout high school and college. He led me to the college I attended.....He gave me the courage and confidence  to step out and spend a summer far away from my family and all things familiar which is where I met Jeremy on the first day I pulled up. 

Jesus is the one who has led us every step of our marriage....it’s not perfect. It’s hard work.....really hard work. But He continues to guide us. Jesus is the one who met me in my deepest days of grief as I walked through multiple miscarriages and struggled with infertility. He gave me peace that no one else could offer. He gave me hope and assurance that I would see those babies again one day in heaven. Jesus carried my body through the difficult days of pregnancy when my body was so weak. He gave me strength as my body was so fragile and weak during the months of postpartum. Pregnancy & postpartum were difficult for me yet filled with so many answered prayers and the most joyful season of my life. Joy doesn’t often mean happiness....it means peace and a deep joy that comes from faith in what we can not see or understand. 

Jesus blessed us with our four beautiful babies....and I know He has unique purposes for each of their lives. That gives me such gratitude and peace. It also gives me a deep desire to be faithful to the calling of motherhood, to diligently teach them what matters most in life. 

Jesus and I have celebrated the greatest joys together. Falling in love with Jeremy, following His leading through my teaching career, holding my sweet newborn babies and experiencing the fulfillment each and every day of living life with Him. However, Jesus and I have also experienced the deepest of sadness and grief. Walking through my mom’s ALS diagnosis and death a few years ago came with so many questions. Why her? Why my mom? Why someone who was such a selfless kind and Godly woman? I may never get those questions answered. But I can tell you that Jesus walked with me and often carried me every day of that hard journey of grief. He showed me that often when we are walking through our deepest valley, He will use us if we are willing to encourage someone else in a valley. He always is working life for our eternal good and for His glory and we can lean into that promise. 

Jesus gives me faith to trust Him, He gives me hope that He has wonderful plans for my life and he gives me peace that I can rest in Him. 

The death of Jesus long ago was a dark day.....yet His obedience in death.....brought a Resurrection day 3 days later. And that day means everything! My Jesus is alive! He is not dead! He conquered death. He brings peace, hope and purpose. So no matter the depth of grief or the highest of joys, I have full confidence that He will be with me forever. It gives me hope that no matter what happens on this earth that this is not my home! This is not the end......we are here for just a vapor of time. Because of his resurrection, we know He offers eternal  life to all of us and the power of His spirit to walk with us through this life. 

I pray this Easter with all going on in the world, that we will continue to make time to press in and think about what Easter really means to each one of us. Jesus wants a relationship with each of us, He wants to walk with us each day and guide us.....He wants us to share our deepest fears and our greatest joys with Him....He wants us to surrender our lives to him and receive the peace, hope and purpose that His resurrection brings to each one of us .....for us individually....for our children.....and for our families.  May He be the reason we wake up each day....to Love Him, Know Him and Serve Him fully. I’m thankful this Easter weekend....and my heart is full. 

Am I in the game?

I’m so thankful for the life lessons I learn from my sweet kiddos every day.......As I watched Bella play her first soccer game of the season yesterday...I was reminded that you don’t have to be the fastest, most aggressive, or even the girl that’s played the most years.....But, if you are willing to get in the game, hustle, listen to your coach and go for the goal as often as you can, you are more likely to make a goal...or even two. :)

So what is it that God has called me to?? Or you to?? What is it that seems far to difficult for you to do? Or maybe it seems so foreign and you feel more than unqualified.  There have been many times in my life when God has called me to step out in faith and try something new....I remember when He began stirring in my heart to homeschool. To be honest, most all the homeschool kids I knew growing up were weirdos and just way out there. Lol But as I began to sense God calling us down what seemed a different path than most, He began also placing amazing women and families in our path who had paved the way.  Families we loved, respected and looked up to.....God began showing me that with His help, He would guide me one day and often hour but hour. Looking back I see His hand throughout the decision as we embarked on what seemed a foreign unpredictable journey and it become the biggest blessing to our family. Because God led me to homeschool Bella, it set us on a path where we were able to have a flexible school schedule and travel to be with my mom 7 hours away in her final 3 years of life. I had no idea in the beginning that was one of the reasons God was pricking my heart but that was the first confirmation of how His plan and timing is always perfect. 

I’m reminded of my life long favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Where is God leading me next? Where is God calling you to take a step of faith? I can assure you that He always equips those He calls. Whether it’s in my homeschooling journey, motherhood, marriage, or even growing a business.  He has always been faithful to send “coaches” my way to guide and direct me and mentor me. So I’ve been reminded this week to get in the game He’s called me to, hustle, listen to His voice and the mentors around me, trust His timing and plan and anticipate all He has in store ahead. He desires to bless His children when we are diligently faithful to His calling! 

My What if Journey...

I was reminded today how deeply thankful I am to be able to be home & present with my kids every day....that’s always been the desire of my heart. I know not every mom desires that and of course I respect others desires & ventures. But for me...that is what I dreamed of.....I am beyond grateful God prompted my heart to pursue a home based business to enable my desire to be home a reality.⠀⠀
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I was the #1 skeptic on direct sales & network marketing for years. But there was something deep inside that kept asking “What if?”.........⠀⠀
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“What if I had a company & product I believed in?”⠀⠀
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“What if it fully lined up with our family’s values & lifestyle?”⠀⠀
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“What if I could weave it into my day & build an income?”⠀⠀
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Two years ago, I stepped out blindly with a curious heart & linked up with a company I can fully stand behind with a product that’s never going out of style. Fruits & Veggies....everyone needs more!! ⠀⠀
⠀⠀My team leader just let me know that January was my biggest business month ever along with my biggest paycheck which has grown to become a full time income for our family. All glory to God...He prompted my heart, He guided my steps. He helped me get over my skepticism. He has stretched me and grown me as a leader. He has guided my every step as I’ve sought to be diligent with my time. He has built my team who have each become dear friends.⠀⠀
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I share this because maybe you are where I was 2 years ago. A desire for something more....a desire for more time freedom & flexibility with your family....a desire to be able to give more to those in need...a desire to build income for your family as you plan for the future. ⠀⠀
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My circle is always open to help new friends...my team has open hearts and hands to link up with you. I often forget this is actually considered “work”....we simply focus on serving the people God places on our path. If you have questions or just want to pick my brain to see if this is a good fit for you, message me I have never been more excited for what’s to come in 2020 and who God is bringing to join us!

Dreams so close to Heaven...

I've been keeping various meaningful experiences over the last 2 years in my notes on my phone....but I just felt the desire to try my best in putting into words in hopes to encourage others of the closeness of Jesus and the nearness of the heavenly realm.  30 months ago, we escorted my precious mamma to heaven's doors.  She so gracefully ended her 3.5 year battle with ALS and her Savior called her home.  The peace I felt during her death far surpasses anything I've ever experienced in my life.  I've walked with the Lord for most of my life, but there is nothing like seeing a loved one suffer and then prepare to leave this earth and pass onto their eternal home.  So much peace....yet along with that came so much grief.  I began to enter in to a spiritual  type tension that I never had experienced before.....on one hand having such peace and joy that comes with the assurance of eternal life yet on the other have such grief and heartache missing my closest friend and mentor.  Yet as I began that grief journey, God has been ever present in meeting me in the deepest of pain and reminding me of His unconditional love and faithfulness.  He carries us in ways that are unfathomable.  He offers such peace, hope and gives us faith when our hearts fail us.  This is what leads to the sequence of events that took place in my mother's first year of absence on earth.

The first experience was at my sister-in-law's home...she and Jeremy's brother were keeping our kids for us one afternoon.  My Charlotte had just turned 1 year old.  We had left them for a few hours and when we returned, Ellen shared with me a picture of the traditional Jesus image....on her refrigerator. I had never shown my kids the picture or talked about that as it relates to my mom.  But, they shared with me that Charlotte kept toddling over to the picture at her eye level, pointing to it and saying, "Mimi...Mimi...Mimi...."  She would say it, go and pay and then go right back to it.  Now I don't know how the heavenly realm works or how God speaks but I know He is all powerful and in that moment I truly believe  that He was reminding me that He has supernatural ways to bring comfort and just reassuring me that he was comforting even my children through the grief process.

A few months later, I was walking through my typical week....yet I was really struggling....Just missing my mom....really wanting just assurance of her peace and presence with the Lord.  Reflecting on the final days of her life....and for anyone who has walked that road knows it is peaceful yet heartbreaking as you see them prepare to leave all they know and love here on earth to enter into the unknown.  As believers, we have peace and assurance of heaven but it's still unknown....the process and the presence of being absent from the body but present with the Lord.  It's just hard...the whole thing is hard! In the midst of that hard week....I truly believe God met me in a dream.  It was as vivid as real life.  I was sitting there with my mom in her final hours just as I had.  I saw her final tear fall down her cheek......and in that moment, in my dream....I felt God speak to me.  He told me "that was a tear of relief as she left her sick body and entered my presence....she's at peace and fully restored with me."  I believe the presence of the Lord met with me and the moment I opened my eyes, I felt a peace that surpasses all understanding.  I remember jumping out of bed ready to conquer my day with the Joy of the Lord.  In the depths of grief and despair, God was near to me.

It was months until the latter experience.  But, it was a similar week of just wanting to hear my mamma's voice, wanting to text her or call her....just to get a bit of parenting advice  or encouragement.  A few days of just feeling low and needing to really feel the Lord was near.  And yet once more He met me in that darkest of hours.  I had another vivid dream that was truly as clear as reality.  In my dream, I received a postcard.  On the front, my sweet mamma was sitting in a rocking chair on a beautiful sunny day just rocking away holding two babies, one in each arm, smiling from ear to ear.  I knew in that moment, that she was holding my two babies that I lost in miscarriage 10 years prior.  In my dream, I turned over the postcard and saw her handwriting, "Whit, I'm fine...don't you worry about me."  I know the Lord met with me there...I know it was a message from him.  Once again when I woke, I had the most amazing sense of peace and joy.  It was as if God sent me a direct message from my mom.....She was whole, complete, healthy and filled with joy.....all her needs were met and she was most certainly fine. =)

So, again, I don't have all the answers as to how how God works...I don't know how the spiritual realm works.....or how close the heavenly realm is to us here on earth.  But I do know for certain the peace and the joy that God alone offers and I know for certain I've experienced Him more during my times of grief than ever in my life.  It has built my faith and strengthened me for the days and years ahead and I'm forever grateful.

Tucker's Heart for Jesus...

Our Tucker is the most inquisitive and curious of all the four kiddos.  He's always had a mind for figuring out why things work the way they do and loves to be the investigator.  He is an independent little fella and marches to the beat of his own drum.  He notices others but isn't afraid to blaze a trail for trying something new on his own.  With this said, he's not just going to do something just because the crowd is going one direction.  When he chooses to do something, we can rest assured that he's going to be all and it  will be all on his own initiative.  The last several months, our little Tuck has been asking questions about heaven....about sin, Jesus and how it all fits together.  I've seen his little wheels turning as his simple questions are answered.  This has been a year of growth for Tucker in so many ways.  He's a July birthday so we decided to give him another year of "preschool" before starting Kindergarten....after much prayer, I just felt led to give him a year of growth. He's loved his preschool class 3 days a week, he loves his Community Bible Study class each Thursday, he's loved helping me lead Good News Club in the local public school and of course enjoys his Sunday church friends!  It's brought me such joy to see him thriving in the various environments.  He's had so many wonderful teachers investing into his little heart and mind this year.  Parenting truly is a partnership.....we do our best to diligently invest and then we prayerfully ask the Lord to guide us as to other growth environments with other adults to love and point our children to Jesus.

A few weeks ago at lunch, the kids and I were having our typical lunch conversation.  Then, Tuck began asking questions about heaven.  We talked about how sin separates us from God but thankfully He sent his Son Jesus to rescue us and save us from our sin!  Tuck finished the story with sharing with us how Jesus died for us but didn't stay in the tomb...He rose again!  This lead into a conversation about our need for a Savior.  We talked about all the Joy that comes when we live a life honoring Jesus and how He wants to guide us every step on earth. We talked about heaven and how we can spend eternity with those we love!  As we ended our brief conversation, Tuck said, "Well I don't need Jesus right now....I will just talk to him before I die and ask him to save me."  Of course that led Bella and Jack into talking about how we don't know when we will die and we need his help on earth as we live.  In which case Tuck responded, "I don't need Jesus's help!"  (A typical Tuck response....remember, he's our independent get the job done alone guy.)  The conversation ended, but I knew he was thinking and I prayed the seeds would grow that were planted.

A week or so later on Friday, February 21, Tuck came and cuddled with me in my chair late one evening.  He began talking to me about how excited he was to see Gaga (Jeremy's dad) and Mimi (my mom) in heaven one day.  I asked him if he was going to heaven one day.....to which he responded, "YES! I am!  I know I need Jesus to help me every day and I want him to help me everyday.  I was thinking "Wait, What?? What did you say??"  (because remember....our Tuck doesn't say or do things just to do them....it is always thought out.)  So I had him talk with me about sin, what it is, what it does.....why he needs Jesus.  He was so adamant...I need Jesus and I need to pray now!  Being that it was 9pm and he was sleepy....we decided to have him think on things and told him if he still felt the same way in the morning to come talk to us.  We put him to bed along with the other kiddos......

To my surprise, in the middle of the night.... a little body crawled in bed with us....which never happens.....ever!!  It was Tuck....I let him snuggle between us and sleep.  At the crack of dawn, I felt a face staring at me, "Mom....Mom.....I want to pray and ask Jesus to save me!"  We knew that this was the Spirit knocking on his heart.....and we layed there together in bed and had him pray.  He talked to Jesus and asked Him to come save Him....to forgive him and that he needed his help.  The sweetest most genuine little prayer.....with as much belief and obedience that a little 5.5 year old can muster.  Sweetest most beautiful moment that we've ever had with our Tuck.

The joy and peace I excperienced that day is hard to explain.....a prayer that I've prayed since my babies were in the womb....that they would come to know Jesus at a young age.  I sure love my Tucky......I pray he runs hard after Jesus and that this is a spiritual marker he will remember for the rest of his life.