Monday, July 28, 2014

A prayer for my Daughters-in-law

I have all boys. I imagine the chances are pretty good that at least one, if not all 3 of the sons I am raising will get married one day. I have often prayed for my future daughter/s in law though not as often as I should. My prayers for them are sometimes short and sweet, and sometimes more detailed and longer. I think it would be great if I remembered to pray for them more often, maybe I should make a note to myself on my calendar!

Whoever my sons choose as wives, I am determined to be the best mother-in-law I can be. I want to do everything I can to get along with my daughters-in-law, to encourage them, to be there for them, and to bless them. I know that the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is notoriously challenging, but I also know, that if I rely on the Lord for His help, I could have a very special relationship with my future daughters-in-law.

Father in Heaven, thank you for my boys. Thank you for the opportunity to raise them. I ask for your help to raise them to be godly men, husbands, and fathers. I pray that you would help guide Archie and I in raising each of them to reach their fullest potential. That they would love You more than anything else. That they would be wonderful husbands and that they would each find the wife that You have chosen for them. That they would be wonderful fathers and raise up wonderful children.

Father, I pray for my future daughters-in-law. I pray that You would bless them today. I ask that if they do not know you as their Lord and Savior, that you would place people in their lives that would lead them to You. That You would make Yourself known to them in a very real way today. I ask for Your protection over them. That in this evil world we live in, that You would keep them safe from harm, from the influences of this corrupt world, from Satan's schemes. I ask that You would work in their lives, even now as children, to make them good and godly women, wives, and mothers. That each of them would be exactly the kind of wife that each of my sons need. Father, I ask that you would equip them to be wise, strong, patient, determined, godly, self-controlled, peaceable, good communicators, quick to forgive, affectionate, and loving. Equip each of them to serve You in whatever way You have planned for them.

Father, bless my future daughters-in-law today. I pray that You would wrap Your arms around them and pour out abundant blessings upon them!

Oh Heavenly Father, help Archie and I to raise our sons well. I ask that You would give us wisdom in doing so. Thank you again for the blessings You have given us!

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.


Sunday, July 13, 2014

Work!

That's what I did on my trip to California!

Jason and I flew out to California a couple of weeks ago to help my parents sort through stuff in their house to help them prepare to move to Northern California from Southern California. They have lived in that house for the past 17 years! When they moved in all 5 of us kids were still living at home, but now, none of us are.

3 of my siblings and their families also came to help with the sorting and packing. I think I was expecting to get more done, but it was pretty tiring work and with all of the kids to keep us busy in addition to the other work, not quite as much got done as I was hoping for. We made a dent though. I think we at least got the ball rolling and it will be a little easier for my parents to keep going and get rid of more stuff and get things packed. It will take a while but they don't plan to move until the fall so there is time.

I am so happy I took dust masks for us to wear while we worked. It wasn't so bad in some parts of the house but when it came to dealing with books, old school supplies, and stuffed animals it was quite dusty!

Jason really enjoyed playing with his cousins. Especially Victoria who is just 5 months older than Silas, so she is 6 1/2 now.

We did get to go to the beach a couple of times and spent a day at Disneyland with my brother and his wife, and their 1 year old son. Jason really enjoyed that a lot!

I wish I lived closer so I could keep helping.

After all that work, throwing away many things, giving away many things, selling things at the yard sale, all of that has made me want to go through my own things here at home and get rid of things. I have realized there are so many things I own that I really have no use for! So why keep them? I've already gotten rid of a few things in the last few days since I got home, and hopefully I can keep up the momentum and get rid of some more useless items over the next few weeks and months.

It is true that none of the things we own really matter. We keep things that are useful, things that are sentimental, sometimes we keep things just because we don't take the time to get rid of them, but really, we can't take anything with us when we die, and nothing we own has eternal value. So if its not useful, or particularly special to me, I'd really rather it have a new home. The tricky thing of course is the part where we place sentimental value on things. I need to work on doing less of that.