The repetitive thing.

A playlist, eyes wide open, and más goodness...

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Jesus tells us to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread” as he teaches his disciples (read “you and me”) how to pray in Matthew 6.

Give. Provide. Supply.

To us. To we. To me.

Bread. Life. Needs.

Daily. Today. And then, tomorrow and again.

Sounds a lot like what we, as mamas, do. Cycling through the consuming to-do list, full of necessary and precious things that will get checked off and will need to be done tomorrow, all over again.

Repetitious. Mundane. Ordinary?

Maybe. But, Jesus is telling us that God does it too.

He is the one giving us our bread daily. To provide for us, his kids, he is not above doing the repetitive thing.

Amongst all the other things, he is the shepherd that makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us beside still waters and in paths of righteousness. He restores our souls. He prepares a table before us and anoints us. He stays and never leaves. [1] He forgives. [2]

In his nature, his works, on repeat in every way in every second of every day, are not too insignificant, too unimportant, too demanding, or too demeaning. He keeps doing.

If he cares for us in this way, then maybe we can see our mundane, instead, through a filter of such significance.

When we care for his by doing the same, we get to reflect him, the King. Our work as Kingdom offering. [3] Our ordinary in exchange for his glory.

[1] Psalm 23

[2] 1 John 1:9

[3] Romans 12:1 MSG

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I believe that we can catch moments for his glory in the ministry of our mothering.

As I’m sure you also often do, I like to check in with my girls to see what they’re enjoying, thinking of, and they’re favorite parts of their days.

A game changer in our conversations has been this—

Over or in addition, asking my kids what they saw God in in that day.

Inherently, pointing them to pay attention to the big and little things and how they are God showing his love to them.

From my girls, recent answers have been healing, Jesus being with them so that they are not afraid while they sleep, the rainbows they see after a monsoon, and yesterday’s brownie sundae. All God showing up to love on them, noticed because they’re paying attention.

With a bit of intentionality, kids can see with eyes wide open.

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I’ve added so much of this prayer to what I’ve been praying daily over my kids.

Affirmations hold their weight. This and Pretty Brown Skin are the songs I find my girls singing almost daily, affirming.

You can trust him.

During the month of July, I most enjoyed reading Dances, Hello Beautiful, and This Time Tomorrow. I’m halfway through Breaking Through Body Shame and what I’ve gleaned is 🤯 Up next, and after weeks of waiting, I’m looking forward to beginning Guidebook to Relative Strangers.

I love this clean lip balm.

My husband and I use Plugged In and Common Sense Media to vet most of what our girls watch and read. Are you using these? Anything additional you’d recommend?

With temps reaching 110+ everyday, after at least 30 minutes of reading (currently the Mindy Kim and Max Einstein series), screen time has been welcomed here! This video-making app has sparked so much awe and creativity within my kids. New skill = win.

We loved this movie (and soundtrack) during our last family movie night!

My First Bible Dictionary and The Student Bible Dictionary for my 6 year old and 9 year old, respectively, have been fun and helpful to use as we continue our inductive study through 12 portions of scripture in Matthew.

I’ve been waiting until August to purchase a number of things, so that I can send them home, to await our return to VA. In the list of things I want is the FIFA Women’s World Cup limited edition of this popular game for my soccer-loving family.

I am making sure to take advantage of BTS sales and (homeschool) educator discounts while I shop. This may be the first year I’ve realized that Anthropologie gives teachers 20% off through 9/4!

Getaway moves me to speak with him as freely as I always need.

First day of school pics are still one of my favorite things. Every year, we use these flags as props and keep them as decor in our learning room. Sharing more of our BTS favorites, below, too…

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 + the reviews / 9 / 10 / 11a / 11b / 12 / 13

1. Celebrated year 12 married to him >

2. Adding museum visits to our days is what we do. This visit to the Museum of Miniatures was a treat.

3. Fruit of spending time this summer learning new skills: rocking our “family time bracelets”, made by my oldest from this kit, each time we go out.

4. Tried to fit the huge saguaro in the frame (unsuccessfully) during our sunset walk up Tumamoc Hill.

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