I would sit there and think, trying to create a “creative memory”, and nothing would come. It was agony.  Truly. I would look around at friends whipping out 7-8 pages an hour and think, “What is wrong with me?” 

It wasn’t my thing.

Fast forward to life overseas, a combination of sweat and tears {and sometimes blood}.  I look around at my compatriate missionary wives and wish I had her administration skills {man is she good at organizing and remembering every detail!}, her musical skills {she is able to pick up any instrument and play}, her ability to decorate her home with such limited resources {and it looks just like a magazine}, or her ability to visit someone, welcome someone else into her home, and teach English, all in the same day.

And it would be easy to get stuck there and wonder “What is wrong with me?”

Maybe it’s getting older, maybe it’s God working in my heart, or more likely a healthy combination of both, but I am resolved to look at what I can do and celebrate that and not let what I can’t do define me.

So, do you wanna know what my thing is?

I sing a mean Itsy Bitsy Spider, people.

Yep. You read that right.

If you are in need of someone to be wild and crazy, energetic and fun, I’m your gal.  I love kids.  I love my own. I love yours.  I love kids! And, in the six years we have lived in Indonesia, I have taught English clubs every one of those years.

And I want to use the talents and gifts that God has given me for His glory, however small and seemingly meaningless they are.  So, if you need a spreadsheet or an event organized, don’t call me.  If you need music, not me.  If you want decorating advice, most certainly not me.  If you need someone who can handle a lot in one day, yep, you guessed, not me.

BUT, if you want someone to act a little loopy and love on some kids, give me a call.

Because it’s my thing.

What is your thing?

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works: my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139: 14

and 1 Corinthians 12

Pictures are courtesy of my wonderful hubby, Dave Forney, and are of an outdoor education class that several of us taught.  You can read more about it here.

During one of our long 8-hour power outages, I moved slowly in the blackness feeling for the front door to push it shut and click the lock.  Unbeknownst to me, the cat was caught between the door and the screen, and there he stayed sandwiched the whole night through {poor thing}.

I opened the door in the morning to find a frustrated feline along with the remains of a screen door scattered everywhere and a huge gaping hole proclaiming my mistake. And each day since, the gash is there announcing to me and all visitors that I need someone to come and fix it. Someone to come and pick up the pieces, fit a new screen, and fill the hole.

I am feeling a bit like that screen door.  Things long held secret coming into light bring pain and leave me feeling like bits of me are scattered everywhere. I have a vast hole, and although mine is hidden away and not as easily seen, I am in need of Someone to come and fix it.  I need Him to pick up the pieces and fill it.

Thankfully, that is the business He is in.  Restoration.

I know that He has it all under control, that He isn’t surprised, and He makes all things new. And it is right there in that word, Restoration.  I can’t be restored by striving for it, trying to fit the pieces back together, fitting in my own screen door. I can, however, be made new by resting in Him, resting in His plan for my life, resting knowing that He works ALL things together for good.

And so I rest.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

How about you?  Are bits of you scattered everywhere and you need Him to fill the hole? Maybe you could whisper a comment and we could lift each other up in prayer to the Master Fix-it Man? Will you join me in His work of Restoration?

It is just about that time, friends! School is almost over and the summer is ready to begin! What bett

er way to make the transition than with a fun party?! Yet, we are all busy moms and there isn’t a lot of time or energy to put into planning something special. If you are anything like me, I have the best of intentions, but I often get overwhelmed by the planning and organizing of a fun memory.

Come join me at The Better Mom for some fun and simple party ideas!

Connecting with my daughter isn’t hard.  She is a sweet, fun-loving girl that shares a common love to read with me. The hard part about spending quality time with her is planning ahead and finding special things we can do together.  And, since she has 4 brothers, a little girl time is always welcome! Here are some ways that we have found to connect…maybe they will inspire you!

Join me at Roo Mag for simple, doable ideas for mothers and daughters and share your ideas too!

Pain, dysfunction, and brokenness permeated the air of my parent’s childhoods. It was their reality, their heritage.

 Weary of this reality, they begged a friend to show them the way to be new, changed, different.

That friend dazzled them with the truth of what Jesus had done for them on the Cross.  They werecaptivated.  In awe, they accepted that exquisite gift and their path turned in a completely new direction. They encountered the Cross and never looked back.

As they made their own new family, their little nest of 3 girls, they desired things to begin anew.  They struggled along to figure out how to “do” family, how to break the chains of the past, how to build a home on the foundation of Christ. Was it perfect? No, but it was real.

Real relationship, real humility, real forgiveness, real grace.

It is a legacy of two sinners holding a precious gift, the Cross, in their hands, and being awestruck as they held that gift. They couldn’t help but pass that on to us, their children.  As I look at their trail-worn faces, their triumphs and failings, I see Jesus. The path they chose was difficult, the blind leading the blind, pain of the past erupting.

Still now, they are captivated by His love, by His tenderness towards them, by His open arms for sinners.

I have the privilege of standing on my parent’s shoulders as they kneel before the Cross.

Because of them, I am also captivated by the wonderful Cross.

Join me today at Mom Heart to hear how I want my children to be captivated by the Cross as well.  I pray that we together might be mothers who are captivated by the Cross and hand that to the next generation.

I invite you to subscribe to Grace Full Mama here.

“Give your children books and read them yourself. Flood your home with their presence so that every soul in your sphere of influence has no choice but to drink in the truth, goodness, and beauty of life.” Sarah Clarkson, Read for the Heart

I love books.  I love to read aloud to our kiddos and for all of us to be excited to read a story together.  Here is a list of our best beloved books.  The kids helped me make the list {although Hannah wants to do an entire post on just girl books…so that will be coming soon!} and it was difficult to narrow it down!

 These are books have captivated everyone in our family, oldest to youngest, in no particular order:

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle- This book is not for the faint of heart! Meg and the Murry’s take you on a fantastical journey to fight evil and find that love is stronger than they thought. If you have very young children, I would save this one until they are a little older.

2. Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White- This is my all-time favorite read aloud book and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Louis, the Trumpeter Swan is an unlikely hero, but one that is so easy to love.  With a great cast of characters surrounding him, this book is about family, standing for what is right, and love.

3. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame- Take a fun and crazy ride with these characters {that also happen to resemble some personality types you may know}. Wonderful, vivid language and a heart-felt tale about true friendship.

4. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis- Full of allegory, lessons for life, and lots of adventure, these are a family favorite and staple, ones we return to again and again! Dave has faithfully read all of these aloud to us!

5. The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Cozy, well-loved, and timeless.  We all love snuggling in and listening to these wonderful tales of pioneer  and farm life.  Be forewarned, don’t read Farmer Boy on an empty stomach! Another series that Dave has blessed us with reading aloud.

6. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink- Caddie is a lovable girl from the pioneer days, and she, along with her brothers, get into quite a few scrapes.  Even the boys loved this book and it’s sequel, Caddie Woodlawn’s Family.

7. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls- A beautiful story about a boy and two sweet dogs.  Adventure, love, and lots of tears are included in this one!

8. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald- Laugh along together at the outlandish remedies Mrs. Piggle Wiggle comes up with for children’s bad behavior. 

9. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater- Mr. Popper and his band of performing penguins are sure to delight everyone in your family! {by the way, it is totally different than the movie that just came out!}

10. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren- Pippi is a wild and fun character.  We especially love that she talks about going deep into the heart of Borneo…because that’s where we live!

Honorable mentions: Gone Away Lake, Dr. Doolittle, Jungle Book, and Pilgrim’s Progress.

Now, you must tell us, what are your favorite read alouds in your home?

“The children who actually end up performing better are those who understand that their relationship with God doesn’t depend on their performance for Jesus but on Jesus’s performance for them.” -Tullian Tchividjian

For many years, although I knew the gospel story in my head, it wasn’t a reality in my day. As a first-born pastor’s kid of a large church, I spent most of my growing up years sick with anxiety and guilt over not being good enough in some area of my life. In my mind, there was some magical measuring stick that I was jumping up trying to reach, and I was never making it. I was searching for the elusive thing that would make me “good enough” and trying to keep all of those plates spinning, or at least keep everyone thinking they were spinning.

But inside that is what I was doing, spinning.

It wasn’t until I truly understood this verse that I was able to embrace the true message of the Gospel: “For it is by grace you have been saved and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And, now I want to pass that radical acceptance on to my precious children. I want to stop the cycle of spinning. What about you? Do you want your children to obey one more list of rules? One more box to check on their list of “good enough”? Or, do you want to lead your children into the most amazing grace they have ever experienced? Do you want them to taste the fruit of true acceptance and help them to know exactly where they stand?

Here are some ways I thought of to do just that:

1. Let your failings lead you and your kids to the Cross. Be honest with your kids when you fail. Don’t hide it. Admit it, and show them that you are a recipient of amazing grace just the same as them.

2. Preach it to yourself first. Do you believe that you are enough because He is enough? Have you let it sink down into your bones? Do you really understand how vile of a sinner you are and how MUCH the Savior did for you?

3. Tell them the Story. The Gospel story is the one thing that your children should hear again and again. Start and end the day with it. Let it always be on your tongue. Find some time today to get alone with yourself and your Bible. Read these words, and let them sink into your soul.

Let HIS words spill over into your parenting today.

How do you communicate the gospel to your kids?

Subscribe to Grace Full Mama here.

Photos are taken by my wonderful hubby, Dave.  Top photo is Hannah and bottom photo is me during a fun family night with glow-sticks.

Linking up with: Women Living Well

Spring is such a beautiful season!

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It all began as we went into a village to encourage the people with a church service, testimonies, Sunday School, a movie on the big screen {End of the Spear}, and fellowship.   I was not prepared for the way in which God would encourage my heart.

We set out on an hour-long canoe ride to a picnic spot.  We passed nothing but jungle for miles and miles, water spraying our faces as we cruised along toward our destination. When we arrived, waiting there for us was a feast of freshly caught and grilled fish, rice cooked in banana leaves, river ferns, coffee, and tea.

It was an exquisite feast as these little ladies had thought of everything and smiled as they passed their humbly made food.  The little old ladies laughed as they watched my twins eat up the food they had made with relish and asking for more.  I silently thanked God for allowing these little ones to minister in such a way to these dear ladies’ hearts. Nothing says love like when you appreciate the food that someone has lovingly prepared. As we ate, canoe after canoe arrived of people, all wanting to join us for the hike.

Feeling full and happy, Dave and I counted all the people and it totalled more than 85! We all began the hike up through the jungle to see a waterfall Dave had seen as he was flying overhead.  The trail was muddy, slick, and difficult.  I fell on my hiney more times than I can count, and yet, I was being passed by 80 year old grandmas in bare feet with one of my twins on their backs, no less!! It made me feel weak and lazy!

As we approached our destination, we could hear the sound of the waterfall.  We crested the last hill, and I was completely overcome with emotion. It is a huge sinkhole in the jungle, with an absolutely unbelievable waterfall inside of it. What struck me as I looked out over this beauty is that I serve the MOST amazing God that would create such a beautiful thing that only a handful of people on earth will ever see.  In the middle of absolutely nowhere, God’s glory is on display, simply for the joy of beauty.  That is amazing.

It might not look all that big, but peek into the pictures and see the size of the people.  This waterfall is huge, and unlike the US, there are no guardrails, nothing keeping you from going right up behind it {which we did}.

As I walked around in the mist coming from the waterfall, I couldn’t help but sing over and over, I Stand, I Stand in Awe of You.  God’s majesty and His glory overwhelmed my heart that day and the memory still brings tears to my eyes.

The sinkhole waterfall from the airplane.

We serve an amazing God!

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! Psalm 96:4

Sing to him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Psalm 105:2

How has God revealed His glory to you recently?

Here is my day:

4:40am- I wake up to the sound of the mosque. I debate about exercise…but I think, if I strain really hard I can hear rain, so I opt to sit and sip coffee with my Bible instead.  My eye is goopy and it’s hard to open….I think it’s pink eye.  We will have to see…. or not see in this case.

6- I make some baked oatmeal and milk {yes, powdered} and go back to sipping coffee and reading.

7- Everyone is up and we all eat.

After breakfast Britton heads outside to check his traps…he caught something, and he’s happy because I pay him for every.single. one. 

7:15- Chaos ensues as sheets are stripped off of beds, laundry is started, beds and shelves are dusted.   My helper, Abi, is not coming in today because she is helping her friend get ready for her wedding.  I guess that means I have to wash dishes {I know…rough life!}….so I dive in.

7:45- Britton informs me that we are out of bananas {what?} and he needs some to feed his gibbon, George.

7:50-Dave leaves for work.  Normally he rides his motorcycle, but today he is taking our visitors, a newlywed college couple on a vision trip.  They pile into the car, along with Britton, who will get dropped off at the roadside stand down the road to buy bananas and then walk home.

8:10-I finish editing a post and publish it.  Then, quickly check Facebook. Britton is back from buying bananas and George, the gibbon, is satiated.

8:40-We start school together, devotions and reading history aloud.

9am- Older two start on independent work and I sit down with the twins and Hudson to read history and then it’s on to a project and math for Hudson.

10am-The twins and I make a snack as the older three work on language.  We deliver the snack and I notice the cat has killed a gecko and it’s laying on the floor.  Awesome.

11am- I sit down to listen to Hudson read and then on to do a writing lesson with the older two.

11:30-Have to figure out something for lunch…..I boil some eggs for egg salad and cut up some veggies

12:15- Dave returns for lunch with our newlywed guests and we all sit down for a quick lunch. What, more dishes?

1pm-Dave and Ryan head back to the hangar and Jessica and I sit down to chat while the older kids read, finish math, and practice typing.  15 minutes later, I excuse myself and go lay down with the twins to read Make Way for Ducklings and take a quick nap. Older kids read quietly.

2pm- Wake up from nap.  My eye is goopy and closed shut.  Pretty sure that it is pink eye. Laundry, sweeping, check email.  Yep, pretty exciting.

2:30- I read aloud to the older kids {twins still sleeping} and then paint two lines of painted wallpaper on my wall ala Jones Design Company. It’s coming along…

3pm-I probably need to shower since there is a wedding tonight of one of our helper, Abi’s, friends. Hmm.  I take a quick shower and then opt to go to the salon down the road to get my hair washed, dried, and curled.  (yes, completely frivolous, but for $3.00, I will happily let someone else do it!)

3:30-Kids are happily playing, twins still asleep, so I head down to the salon with my ipod loaded with an episode of Downton Abbey (don’t judge).

4:15-I return and all the kids head out to play outside with friends.  I don’t have to make dinner, so I get the card and money ready for the wedding later tonight…I get dressed and put some makeup on.

5:15pm- Dave gets home and I run to the Apotek (little drugstore) to get some eye drops. I point at my goopy eye and tell them that I need something to make it better.  The lady hands me an antibiotic and I also grab some worm medicine for the whole family while I’m there (that is how we roll in the tropics, people!)

5:30-Get everyone ready for the wedding.  We rummage through the clean laundry for appropriate clothes and finally have success.

6:30-We all pile into the car to head to the wedding

6:45-Arrive at the wedding. I feel two things: hot and very,very tall {I’m 5’61/2″ for reference}.

 We try to grab our food and make our way to the few chairs we see in the back…it is quite a feat.  We see Abi and head over to her. Typical Indonesian weddings can be summed up in these words from the movie, A Bug’s Life, “they come, they eat, they leave.” You come, eat some food, then go greet the bride and groom and all their family, drop an envelope in a basket, and then leave.

7:45- We head home, sweaty, tired, and happy.

8:30-Kids are in bed, I am pooped.  Dave and I climb in bed to watch The Mentalist, and I’m asleep before it’s over.

Life is good.  God is good.