A move, the mirror, and leaning into.
A life update (and upgrade).
It’s still hard for me to believe. In the span of two weeks, we planned, packed, and moved 2,256 miles away from home. Just for the summer.
Just for the summer, new everything. A different routine. An unfamiliar environment, a new climate. Flowers and animals and plants we’ve never seen. Places to visit and glean. More food to try for the first time. People (dare I say, “friends”?) to meet.
In anticipation of all the things, I asked God to prepare our hearts and to show us his glory.
In these few weeks, he is already doing beyond. The perfect Airbnb for our needs, favor in my husband’s career, a slower pace. Kind neighbors and free activities. Beautiful, hot days and all the food I’ve ever wanted to eat.
Around 605 BC, Daniel, too, found himself in a new place. Hundreds of miles from Jerusalem to Babylon. Selected and taken to serve the king because of his nobility, he also approached his relocation in anticipation.
Awake and fully aware of his value [1], he resolved to steward himself and his calling well. Essentially, his sense of worth moved him to. Without pause, Daniel firmly decided not to defile himself with the food and wine assigned to him from the king, daily [2]. He set himself apart, in obedience, to keep himself leaning into holy.
As I ate my way through much of Arizona’s best throughout our first two weeks, the carne asada, gelato, rice, and cheese in plenty did not love on my body. I’ve mentioned here before my diagnosis of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Along with it, comes the need to avoid my food sensitivities and follow an anti-inflammatory diet [3].
I’m Paul, but not in the I-wrote-most-of-the-New-Testament way! “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.”
After days of feeling my feelings and feeling everything physically, the Holy Spirit nudged me with questioning:
How do I need to see me?
What do I need to move me to steward myself in light of my true worth and offering?
Do I see myself the way you see me?
Do I know and believe what you’ve said and what you say about me?
Daniel knew exactly who he was, not based on the high opinion of King Nebuchadnezzar II and his chief official, but based on his identity—Jewish—chosen. And, because identity issues were not a thing, his sense of worth and the ways he honored it, even through his food choices, were unwavering.
Our identity is also found in being his—chosen, holy, blameless, predestined, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven [4].
Holding the mirror of his Word to remind myself of his thoughts, in love, of me and his actions, in love, for me, how can I choose not to steward what he values (it me!) accordingly? Even to the point of what my temple consumes?
I’ve gone back to my extreme. No gluten, refined grains, dairy, added sugar, or red meat. I’ve asked God to show me the potential of my obedience in this small, but not so easy, thing in 10 days [5]. And, in just these few, I already see his hand.
How can you move, knowing and being reminded of your identity, how he sees, and what he says about you [6]? What do you need to firmly make the decision to do? Is it adding or taking away one thing from your routine? Changing the way you speak to yourself or the way you guard your eyes and heart from what you’re listening to or watching?
Mama, we can resolve day after day to see how he sees. To him, in love, you are everything. Know your worth, cling to it, and in love, let’s steward well and lean into holy.
[1] Daniel 1:3-4
[2] Daniel 1:5, 8
[3] Article, Top 10 Inflammatory Foods to Avoid Like the Plague
[4] Ephesians 1:3-14
[5] Daniel 1:11-20
[6] I received this list at a women’s event over 10 years ago. The print out still sits at my night stand, and I finally found this PDF version. Here is the source.
I believe that we can catch moments for his glory in the ministry of our mothering.
A few days ago, I wrote what I thought was a beautiful way to encourage to you to join me in offering up a mundane thing for his glory. Then, my MacBook started acting funny and yesterday, I came back to find that all I'd written was lost.
Honestly, I'm mad about it and I'm not writing it again.
But, this is what I've begun to do now that I am a woman who washes, dries, folds, and puts away one load of laundry each day…because it blesses me, I hope it also blesses you—
When you find yourself folding and putting away laundry, again, pray over the person in your family you're serving in that moment. Every time and in every way. It'll change your heart about everything.
That's it. That's the offering. Exchanging mundane for glory 🤲🏽
You know that feeling you get when the Lord flips the meaning of a portion of scripture, that you've read a thousand times before, upside down for the first time? 🤯 That was Nehemiah 8:10 for me last week. I stumbled upon this article after doing some digging and I cannot stop thinking about it.
While we school year-round, we have a much lighter rhythm May through August. We've been prioritizing keyboarding (levels K-5) using the very best mouse for little hands, and loving this inductive Bible study method curriculum recommended for kids 8 - 13 years old (mine are 6.5 and 9). For you, the study is $5 off its regular price for the next two weeks! No code needed.
We've been getting our hearts and minds ready for the FIFA Women's World Cup with this book.
With temps already in the mid to high 90s, we've been and will continue to be at the pool pretty much daily! My girls are obsessed and come up with the most creative games using these dive rings.
ThinkBaby makes a great sunscreen stick to easily apply on their ears and faces, my Black female dermatologist recommended this for our scalp (think braid, twist, and loc parts), and this is our favorite sunscreen spray.
I just finished this Set Apart study alongside the women at my church, and it was good!
My husband was adamant about making this time away comfortable, so we are renting a place over a hotel stay. To make things feel more like home, we packed these, use this faithful and waterproof mattress pad, immediately secured library cards with the county, and purchased this weighted stuffy because we didn't have the space to pack their weighted blankets.
The games my girls keep returning to these last few weeks. They all travel well!
In the month of May, I finished reading Yellow Wife, The Last Thing He Told Me, and Wahala. Just started Remarkably Bright Creatures and I'm intrigued. I was totally against reading on a Kindle, but plus Libby, it's a gift to my love for reading. Easily the reasons why I'm able to consume.
This surprise craft kit looks promising for home and on the go (I'm thinking restaurants).
So…what are we doing for Father's Day? I will be praying my way through this thoughtfully curated guided prayer journal again (and again). And, other than another Bluetooth speaker, my husband is getting the best water bottle of all time according to Esquire and my kids (tell me you remember when I first told you about them?!) and a few pairs of these running shorts.
“You keep moving [in perseverance] when you keep falling in love [with Jesus]…it’s the love affair [you] have with him today.”
We spent our last day home doing one of the girls' favorite things—playing and cheering each other on as daddy coached each of their teams. Bittersweet.
Mom & Dad on staycation, but away in AZ 🤷🏽♀️ We're here pretending the kids aren't on the other side of the table, because when will we have a date night again??
Added a visit to the Desert Museum to our list and enjoyed every minute of it.
Instantly and consistently amazed by God's hand. In the first 24 hours in our new city, he gave us (and my trepidation) so many rainbows, reminding me that every single promise he makes, he keeps. My oldest literally kept shouting “thank you, God!” when she'd see one. Awe & wonder, wonder & awe, y'all.
