The Holding Place

In 2010, when God was stretching me so wide on the inside, it seemed as though I wasn't able to do a whole lot other than survive.  I felt as though my life was on hold, and the rest of the world just kept going.  But in reality much was happening, like a caterpillar in a chrysalis.  At that time I was waiting...waiting to come to life it seemed.

Yesterday I came across a portion of Scripture that I had underlined while in this holding place.

"You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth You will bring me up again.  You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.  My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to You; my soul also, which You have redeemed.  And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,"  (Psalm 71:20-21, 23-24 ESV)

I wrote the following poem during that time as well.  As I look back I am amazed at how He would put so much hope to me, in such a seemingly dry place.   He is good!

Journey
You take us on a journey,
A path filled with sweetness and sorrow.
Sometimes we want this life to stop,
But then here comes tomorrow.

The victories aren't always won swift,
But they're victories the same.
The sorrows seem like they will never end,
But they do-and it's joy that remains!

On the treacherous parts of this path,
We've discovered how weak we are.
But this is such a good thing,
We can see You've taken us far.

You're producing in us,
Something worth far more than gold.
Praise You, Lord Jesus,
It's Your hand we hold.

You're faithful to restore us,
When the testing is done.
But we're not the same...
We're better-You've won!

(Rachel Ranae 6.23.10)


(Photo credits:  1 Christian Meyn, 2 dan)

I Will Have Them

The other night I was looking at some photos of a girl I used to know, in these amazing far away places she had traveled to.  A part of me wished I could travel the world and see those places with my own eyes.  I can't.  I don't have the money, or the time, or that kind of freedom!

I happened to immediately go from those photos, to mine.  I saw the precious faces of the children so dear to my heart.  At once the beauty in those eyes was just as amazing to me.  Instantly, joy filled my heart.  I have been given the gift of being a mother.  When I can see the beauty in the work I've been given, it takes my breath away.

Those little people, whom God chose to form in me...I will have them.  I would choose them again.  The wonders of the rest of the world can wait.  I will see all the beauty He has put around me, right where I am.

I will not diminish the magnitude of mothering my children.  I won't look at it as something to get through so that I can get on with my life!  This is my life!  Investing in them is an extremely important ministry that I have been given by God.  I serve Him, by loving them.

"Homes are tremendously powerful places, because they are where people come from.

You do not go home to hide from the world, you go home to change it."  - Rachel Jankovic

My heart is happily at home.
I look forward to welcoming another little person into it this fall!

Moms...Read this book!

I just finished a book that I wish I could buy for every mom!  I might just have to make my husband read it too.  It's called Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic...(he can read it on his iPad so no one will see the title).

It's an easy read, but full of richness.  It's not a book of lofty ideas that are hard to apply.  She gives her own real life examples, which I really enjoyed.

"Sometimes all we really need is a fresh perspective on our circumstances.  We need someone to open a window and let a breeze blow into the room that we didn't realize had gotten so stuffy.


This book is about hardship and humor, sacrifice and satisfaction.


This is not a tender reminiscence from someone who had children so long ago that she only remembers the sweet parts.


I didn't write this book because mothering little ones is easy for me.  I wrote it because it isn't.   I know you need encouragement because I do too." ~ Loving the Little Years


At the time of writing this book, she had five kids 5 and under!  Three in diapers!
You have time to read this.  It's short and sweet.  Soul-searching and practical.