No Condemnation

Sometimes I feel guilty.

Do You?

I mean when things are hard,like the current economic situation most of us are in, being a stay-at-home mom feels kinda weird.

I have worked since I was 15 years old until this past year. God revealed to me that my responsibility was to be a mom to my child.

That's it.

God wants me to teach Austin the ways of righteousness and be available to him with my undivided attention. Believe it or not, this is the hardest job I have ever had. It is, however, the only job I have ever desired. That is, since becoming a mother. It just never seemed possible.

When resources are scarce, it takes a lot of faith to stay at home day after day knowing that if I went out and got a job, relief would be in sight. But, when I even so much as entertain the thought, my peace begins to drift away.

Letting peace be my umpire...you know...allowing the presence of peace to call the shots, has been the guiding light for me. It has never led me wrong so far. No peace equals no moving on my part.

Really, it has been rather enlightening to trust God utterly and completely for every single need our family has. My husband works hard daily to provide for us, but we have learned that God alone is our provider and He will NEVER fall short!

Sometimes we are just to stay where God has put us until we receive different directions. Even when it gets trying. Even when we get tempted to take things into our own hands and solve the problems. Even when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Where has God placed you? Has He called you to be in a specific place right now that you are unsure of? Are you having to rely on Him for everything?

If that is where you are, then you are in the right place.

That's where He wants us; totally dependent on Him and Him only.

It's truly a good place to be. Excitement comes when we wake up every morning and expectantly wait to see what He has in store for us today! It is amazing to see what He does when we give it all to Him. When we loosen our grip on life and He holds the reigns, wonderful blessings are showered on us!

On those days when I get overwhelmed and discouraged, just one look into my child's eyes confirms to me that I am surely in the right place at the appointed time. All the "I love you, mom" and "You're the best" statements from that little dimpled smile say it all.

Guilt is not something that God sends our way. Conviction is. I was convicted of being a too-busy parent. I obeyed. God has provided. No guilt necessary!

Today, bloom where He has planted you. Trust Him with the details. He NEVER fails.

Comforts of Home

Spring is in the air here in North Carolina. Not sure how long it will stay, but it has been an absolutely glorious weekend!!

As most of you know, we have recently moved. It has taken us 2 months to get our house in order. When we bought it, it was in dire straits, but now we almost have it like we want it. Praise God!

Thanks to the beautiful weather we had this weekend, I finally got a jump on the outside of our new home. It was in rough shape. After a long hard look (allowed by the warm air and sunshine), I was able to determine what needed to be done in order to improve it. I spent all day yesterday raking mounds and mounds of leaves, shoveling dirt and moving rocks. Much to my surprise, we have a lovely patio that I wasn't sure even existed! I jokingly ran into the house and announced to my family that I had "found our backyard"! They were just as surprised as me when they went out to view my discovery! It is amazing what years of neglect can do to a property.

Our new house was most certainly neglected by it's previous owners, but lots of elbow grease, determination, and love, and it is slowing changing into a place that feels good to us; A place that feels like home, inside and out. When your life begins to feel not-so-great, maybe a few things are being neglected. Maybe now is a good time to step back and take a good hard look at your surroundings. Do you see your Creator anywhere? Have you been speaking to Him? Listening to Him? Neglecting Him? Sit a spell and have a one-on-one conversation with Him. You may just find a whole new place of comfort that you never even knew existed!

I am learning that home really is where the heart is. That sounds cliche', I know, but it is so true. Now that I have experienced living in 3 different places since December, I realize that home is not a structure or a building of any sort, it is wherever my family is with me. My family is what fills my heart. My God is what fills my heart. Both were with me every step of the way. Neither ever left me feeling neglected. For that I am truly thankful.

Here's wishing you determination, love and a heart filled with a sense of home.
Love and Blessings,
Starr

Just Plain Tired

My mom left to go back to her home at the beach this morning. She has been staying with us for 2 weeks so she could help out with little baby Merissa. (Read previous post if you haven't met Merissa).

I started missing my "mommy" the minute she pulled out of my driveway. But, my dad was missing her, too. Hence the trip back home!

Merissa's Mom, Andrea had to have more surgery this morning. This is the third one in two weeks. She has fluid and infection in her brain and the doctors had to insert a tube to drain the fluid. Please keep her in your prayers.

For most of the day after my mom left I found myself barely able to hold my eyes open. I did have to work in my salon today, but only had two customers this afternoon, so I plopped down on the couch for the rest of the time.

Austin is a little under the weather today due to some allergy issues, so he was quite willing to just lie down beside me on the sofa. What bliss it was to snooze away together under a big soft blanket!

I can hardly remember when he was as small as Merissa. No matter how grown up he gets, he will always be my little baby. I feel the same way about Chase, now 18, but can't tell him that or I will get that notorious eye-roll thingy most teenagers are famous for.

Hopefully, I will wake up tomorrow with a big burst of energy. I want to drive to my cousin's house for a visit. I really need a "Merissa Fix". I didn't see her all day today. I feel kinda deprived.

I'm off to grab still more of that much-needed slumber, this time in my comfy bed next to my comfy husband.

Praise God for all the willing snuggle buddies I have been blessed with!

Stay tuned for more "Not-So-Normal Stories Form The LaPradd Abode".

Love and Blessings,
Starr

Back To Normal

Please realize, I use the term "normal" rather loosely. Not sure if we really know "normal" around my house. But, everything is pretty much the same as it once was now that my little man is back from his two week stay at the coast with my parents. (Three,actually, if you count the week we spent there with them)

At this very moment he is playing a ferociously loud video game, the washer and dryer are going full speed ahead, the dishwasher is running upstairs in the kitchen and I am trying to get caught up on a pile of emails and household tasks.

Gone are the relaxing days of peace and quiet. Gone is the relished time spent reading and writing for hours and hours. Gone are the leisurely walks around the neighborhood and the uninterrupted phone conversations with friends. Gone are the romantic nights alone with hubby.

Guess what? I wouldn't have it any other way! (Well, I really do miss that last thing mentioned above!) I'm just so glad to have Austin back home with us!

My eighteen year old, Chase will be leaving this weekend to go on a mission trip. He'll be gone for a week. So, we will be back to "sub-normal" for a short while.

That's how it is for most of us, don't ya think? Normal doesn't even exist.

Family does.

Chaos does.

Adventure does.

Life does.

And life is ever-changing.

So, on that note, I will go check the clothes in the dryer, unload the dishwasher, and get off this computer to go remove the game controller from the grip of my little man so we can do some catching up.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be posting some photos of our trip to the beach and our Fourth of July fun!

Love and Blessings,
Starr

Those Pesky Have-To's

I hate tax time. I tend to put all my preparations off until the last possible minute. Today, we have a 3:00 appointment to get them done professionally, and I am just now getting everything together! How ridiculous is that!! It's not like I don't know April 15th is fast approaching just as it does year after year after year. At any rate, I am now finished compiling all the information and will be glad to hand it over to someone much more qualified than myself to make sense of it all. The best part is that we will more than likely get a nice refund check for all the inconvenience!

There seems to be a myriad of those have-to things every day. Taxes are the worst, by far, but the rest of them aren't so great either. For instance.....laundry comes immediately to mind. No matter how many hours a day I spend drudging away in my too-small laundry room, the next day it is all there facing me again. Maybe we have entirely too many clothes. Maybe we change them too often. (well, daily is probably not too often!) I don't know what the answer is. I just know I will be there in front of that washer and dryer today just like I was yesterday and just like I will be tomorrow.

Another have-to thing is work. Not that I am lazy in any way. I think it is actually impossible for a work-at-home mom to be lazy. But, when you throw in the homeschooling, the housecleaning (and don't forget the laundry, ugghh!!), who has time for work! My issue is that I try to work while the kids are in and out of the room interrupting me every other second about something "urgent" to them. The struggle comes because I would prefer to be giving them my full attention, but instead, I am trying to work. How can that be right? To me it isn't, but at this point in time, I have no choice. It is a have-to.

One thing I truly have-to do every day is a joy to me; That is to pick up my Bible and spend time with Jesus. It is a have-to because I cannot survive without it. No one makes me do it. I am aware, though, that if I don't, all the other have-to's will be entirely overwhelming to me. I would certainly collapse under the weight of them if I was not supported by a relationship with my Creator. Spending time in his Word gives me the strength to face all the mundane stuff in my life.

My husband, children and my home bring me much joy. The upkeep of them does not. Through my daily time with God, I find just what I need to face those challenges in any given day. I find ways to get through the have-to's joyfully so I can REALLY enjoy my family.

If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed today, grab a cup of coffee and your Bible. Try to find a quiet place to meet with your Savior. He is the professional that can make sense of it all. He can take the mess that we have compiled and turn it into something worthwhile and beautiful. Pass through the inconveniences with Him and you will find something good waiting for you.


Psalm 29:11- " The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses His people with strength."

Colossians 3:16-17- " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him."

Write down in your journal what seems to be overwhelming you today.

Ask God for some ways to pass through the have-to's with joy.

Write a prayer thanking God for all the have-to's in your life. Remember, without them you would be lonely and unproductive....Unable to make a difference. Our have-to's are a gift from God. They make us stronger.

Blessings,
Starr