Gateways to Joy

I have not forgotten about you.  I can't. I have been a stay-at-home mother for over 19 years, and for all of that time my family and I have lived off my husband's income.  For so many of those years, I've wanted it to be the season where I earned an income but God didn't say the same.  So working without monetary pay has been my lot. I've not always been a happy camper about earning no money.  Sometimes I feel like the kids and I go without so much.  Those who don't have this lot quickly and so easily tell me how, "Life isn't about money or things." "Easy for you to say," is what I often think. I have been learning Photoshop, grapic design, blog designing and photography.  I still have so much to learn!  I have poured over learning Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator and how to use my Nikon D3100.  I am happy to say that I've made great strides. I now know that photography and the editing of pho...

Every so often I have to pull out my " mission statement " for my family.  I am one who can get so caught up and led away from the very thing I deem most important. How would I feel if I was known for being a stay-at-home mom only, the way I was known years ago? Have I fallen into the trap of this world's lie of me not being good enough if I am only a mother? What about you?  Have you fallen into the trap? Is your home life evidence that you have fallen into that belief?  Do you feel that you have to be more? Many of us say that we've taken on more to have more, more curriculum, more this and more that, but why after we've reached our goals do we continue on in spite of subtly being led from our calling, continue investing so much of our time into ...? Can't we make do with what God has given?  Can we really make do?  Can we really help and still be home in our hearts and minds? How often are we "stay-at-home" mom's putting off what w...

The questions was asked, "How do I get going early in the mornings?" Steps to rising early : 1.  Set the alarm clock for the same time each morning. 2.  Have the alarm put in a place where you must get out of bed to turn it off. 3.  Don't get back in bed { You will be tempted if this has not become your normal routine } 4.  Visit the bathroom { Get dressed. This makes it harder for you to get back into the bed } 5.  Head for the coffee pot, Bible and so forth { Yes, I do it in that order } 6.   If you fail.  Try again tomorrow.     Remember— Mornings are the most profitable. I think this is the time when we are most energized making it much easier for more things to be done. It takes time to prepare our minds for the day, so rising early gives us the jump start we need. Note:  I try to make sure to have everything that I'll need for the morning ready at night. Just as we don't change all at once, so we don't swallo...