This post is a little different and I love different.  It’s fun to mix things up.  When I asked Kristin Walker to guest post, she eagerly agreed and chose to write just like she was meeting you, my reader for the first time.  I love that!  Kristin and I have known each other almost since birth.  She’s adorable both inside and out and I know you’ll enjoy what’s on her mind!

Thank you Bobi Ann for asking me to share on your blog this week! Writing is not my thing, so we will see how this goes. A little about me to start off…I’ve been married to my husband Mark for 6 years and we have two little boys. Luke is 4, red hair, blue eyes and fair skin. Jake just turned 2, blonde hair, brown eyes and right now is as tan as can be. It is amazing how different they look! They are quite a reminder every day of God’s creativity.

I’m often asked, “Are you done? Don’t you want to try for a girl?” My husband has a “deal” with God, as he puts it, that we don’t “make girls.” We shall see. I just smile and say, “I don’t know. Maybe.” It normally depends on the day I’ve had with my boys. I was promoted (or demoted depending on the day ) to a “Stay at Home Mom” when Jake was born. I served as full-time children’s minister at our church south of Houston for almost 6 years and the first 2.5 years of Luke’s life.

My husband is an engineer and by default was called to children’s ministry as well. I had a pretty long list of “qualities” I wanted in a husband. Some of the tops were love Jesus, love serving, love kids, love sports and love the Baylor Bears! Mark exudes all of these! The Engineer thing wasn’t on my list, but I’m learning. It’s like a specific species or something. After months of praying and talking and praying and talking, we felt the Lord leading us to this new chapter in our story with me being at home. It has its challenges, of course, but I don’t regret it for one second. Some days are long (some really long), but years sure are short!

I have been thinking about what I wanted to share on BA’s blog. Right now we are in the middle of a week of Sports Camp for our kids at church. It’s a mixture of VBS and Sports in the evenings. I am heading up the cheerleading group. I was never a cheerleader. We have 100 plus girls. Enough said. We’ve got swimming lessons, goodbye parties, meals to deliver, extra kids over, orders to be processed for my little business, doctor’s appointments and a trip to get ready for next week. I wish I could say that most of my weeks aren’t like this one, but that would be a lie. It seems like each week is different, yet all are filled with a long to-do/to-go to list. Sometimes these lists are stressful and require immediate attention and other times they aren’t so demanding. I have a hard time slowing down and saying “no.”

Over the last couple of years (since I have been home full-time with my boys) I have struggled with the balance of life. Anyone else out there identify with this? It seems there is never enough time in the day, week for quiet time with Jesus, “me” time, time with my hubby, time with each of my kids, family time, time to serve in our community, time to serve in our church, time with friends, time with those that don’t know Jesus, time to grocery shop, time to….. Ok, you get the point! The sad part is this is actually a very small list compared to what all came to mind!

[Tweet “I have a hard time slowing down and saying “no.””]

I would like to say that I have this all figured out–that God sent me a text to tell me exactly how to do this and I have “spreadsheeted” (my husband would be proud) my time each day and week to be mathematically perfect! WRONG! I will say that over the years the Lord has always given me exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it. Here are a few verses I have clung to on various days over the last few months.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:5-9

I will never be perfect or have it all figured out, but God has not asked me to be perfect. If I cling to Him each and every day, He promises to give me power and strength I need.

[Tweet “I will never be perfect or have it all figured out, but God has not asked me to be perfect.”]

I am the only mom my kids have and the only wife my husband has. What am I doing with the time I have with them right now? As I go about my day do I impress the things of the Lord upon my children? Do I model them in front of my children?

In the busyness of my days and weeks I strive to lean into the Lord, listen to him and share all of this with my children throughout our days. It is not always easy and often hard. I am thankful I am not alone. I pray you are encouraged and challenged a little today by what’s on my mind.☺