There are days when you read something on someone else’s blog that you find so compelling you just kinda think…why say what’s already been said?

Such is the case today.

I have much admiration and respect for Dannah Gresh and she has dedicated the last several years of her life to speaking into the lives of others on the subject of purity and sexuality. She has done the research and has a pure heart in her motives to speak on these subjects.

Well, on her blog today she’s claiming, “I’m Not Reading Fifty Shades of Grey” and asks others to join her in that statement. If you have heard all about Fifty Shades of Grey and are planning to read it – might I suggest you hear what Dannah has to say and you may just want to reconsider.

I, for sure, will not be reading Fifty Shades of Gray. There are some things you just don’t want in your brain.

To make a better informed decision for yourself on wether or not to read this book, I invite you to go hear Dannah’s thoughts and join with her in making the statement, I’m Not Reading Fifty Shades of Grey!

Over the weekend I had the joy of serving a friend as the wedding coordinator for her daughter’s wedding. I have had lots of experience through the years as a party planner, wedding planner, but as of late I “gift” my services to those I love because it blesses me tremendously to see a peaceful mother and a happy bride!

As I sat on my back deck today praying for the new bride and groom I had several snapshots of the day click through my head.

• the bride and her mother and attendants getting ready before the wedding, seeing that nervous anticipation on the bride’s face…and remembering my own
• the groom’s look of awe as I told him – five minutes before “first look” photo’s
• the prayers of my 16 year old boy work crew as we were preparing for the out door reception while the ceremony was taking place
•  the sun bursting forth the moment the bride and groom stepped out of the church (answered prayer – the forecast was 70% chance of thunderstorms)
• the father of the bride singing as his daughter had the first dance with her husband
• the contented look of the mother of the bride as she stood by throughout the day, a short distance away, watching and relishing the joy of her daughter no doubt realizing a season has passed
• the bride stooping down to talk with a wide eyed five year old little girl who saw standing before her a princess of fairy tale proportions
• a weary groom, patiently waiting to steal his bride away from chatting wedding guests and carry her to her surprise honeymoon destination
• the final goodbye’s of the parents of the groom and parents of the bride before they ran out of the church into a sea of bubbles

Weddings are glorious. Marriage is difficult.

My prayer is that this sweet couple will spend everyday dying to self, for that is truly the secret behind the “I do” … “for as long as you both shall live.”

I have supported Hope for Orphans since 2006 and it is my fervent prayer that others in the mom blogging space will join with Hope for Orphans for the National Foster Care Prayer Vigil.

Five years ago during a gathering of orphan advocates at Saddleback Church I stood at a small table and registered those who would commit to pray. That day I slowly watched the map of the United States fill up with prayer vigils being committed to all across this nation of ours.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could virtually hold a Foster Care Prayer Vigil?  Join with me on Monday, May 21st and use your blog to pray for children in the foster care system. And commit yourself and your family to continue to pray every evening that week.

Be The Mom in prayer, for those who have no mom.

Join with me on May 21st as my post becomes a prayer and I ask those who visit my blog to write a prayer in the comments.

Please register your own virtual Prayer Vigil by visiting the Cry of the Orphan website.

I am in a difficult place right now.

I just read over and camped on Psalm 23 for a bit.

Rather than quiet waters…I sense a churning.

An overwhelming crash of emotion…a wave of anxiety and fear.   As I concentrate on God and who He is in the face of my uncertainty, though the wave is upon me, it slowly abates with the ebb of peace and calm – just as the waves of the ocean.

God is not surprised by anything happening in my life right now.

I am learning that the pound of the wave is strangely welcomed. Because that turmoil and tumbling brings with it the promise of a gentle retreat and peaceful calm remains after the wave subsides.

The sea shell that finds itself trapped within the surf being rolled and tossed and relentlessly pounded has no way of knowing that tumult is smoothing rough edges and polishing to bring out beauty.

And the powerful wave is pushing that seashell towards a serene seashore that passersby may stop, stoop and admire all of its God intended gloriousness.

God’s creation was fashioned in the pounding.

This is the picture God gave me this morning of what He is up to in the pounding. It sounds splendid when it’s a seashell – it’s painful when you are a mom … attempting to go about your day.

I glance over at my Bible and the words somehow seem larger “…he leads me beside quiet waters,” indeed no matter the tumult…He leads me to the quiet waters. For that I am overcome with gratitude for His grace and mercy.

I will praise Him in this storm.

An alarming trend of loss and death continues to grow, leading to speculation that social media and media in general have become the fastest growing killers in America.

The public reporting of mounting deaths has been kept under wraps for several years, but no longer can our society look the other way.  We must all recognize the truth that there is a dark side of social media and media or the death toll will continue to rise.

Several first hand accounts of these deaths are now being widely reported and Americans are being asked to consider their culpability and involvement in an effort to put an end to the widespread death and destruction.

Reported Deaths:

“Our home used to be filled with conversation and laughter as we connected with each other, now we connect with our iphones, itunes and computers.”  Death of family unity.

“After school snacks used to be a time of hearing about my children’s day, it is now my opportunity to post on my blog, Facebook and Twitter, while they text their peers.”  Death of child/parent bonding.

“I used to play with my daughter at the park, now she plays alone while I chat on my phone.” Death of mother/daughter relationship.

“Gathering in the kitchen to share in meal preparation used to be a great way to bond with my husband and son. Now my husband uses that time to send out those last few e-mails while my son plays X-Box and I add a few more Pins.” Death of family togetherness routines.

“We used to hang out together in the evenings.  We now retreat to separate rooms and personal media choices.” Death of the “family” room.

“I used to enjoy my cup of coffee and quiet time with God. Now I check Facebook first thing…and linger longer each day.” Death of relationship with God.

What do you think? Are your relationships suffering due to media choices? Or have you found a way to step away? Please share!

I wrote this post a few weeks ago and feared the blogging world was not ready to accept it and it has been tucked away…waiting for the right time to share.

This morning a friend Mona sent me this link to a post a young mom, Rachel at Hand Free Mama, shared - and I was so touched by her post and lifted up a prayer that her words would be heeded by those that read her explosive thoughts. I hope moms will push their phones aside, rather than their children.

About an hour later, while I was enjoying my walk and prayer time, God pulled up to the front of my mind the truth that families all over America are dying.

He also assured me that now was the time to report on that very truth…

Love, Love, Love this song…my anthem…officially!  Listen to those WORDS…and the melody…and that voice!

BEST SONG to describe me ever!!!! How about you?

Since 2006 I have been a supporter of Hope for Orphans the organization that birthed the Orphan Care Summit.  Summit VIII is going on right now at Saddleback!  I have participated in several of these events including the last one held at Saddleback and each has been an amazing gathering on behalf of the least of these.

Visit the Summit website and become part of what God is doing through people for the orphan!

When my son was in the fourth grade his father and I made the decision to bring him home from school to home school him. That was a great year for him and for me.  I used some curriculum, but I also created some of my own stuff for him, to better help him improve in areas where he had weaknesses.

Being a home school mom also helped me improve in areas where I had weaknesses. Confession time – I can lack discipline. I always manage to get it all done, but I am rather random in the way I go about it. Well, I learned during that fourth grade year that when you home school random doesn’t cut it. I found myself having to create and stick to a daily routine, much like I did when my children were toddlers, before they went off to school.

This old dog has to re-learn a new trick; daily disciplined productivity with a teenager. I’m guessin that’s gonna be a fun one! Much has changed since that boy of mine was a wee fourth grader. He is now a large, soon to be 11^th grader!

The obvious – our lunch bill is going to go way up! But beyond that I am still contemplating what other big adjustments I will have to make in my current random days. I do know it will be good for me.

Here’s a bit of irony – Be The Mom comes out this fall, I first started writing what would become Be The Mom that year I home schooled my son. The daily discipline of working with my son caused me to have a writing routine. I am hoping that means the four books I have started and dabbled with over the last couple of years actually get completed! Wouldn’t that be amazing!

If any of you fabulous home school moms of teens have any suggestions for me – I would so welcome your thoughts and suggestions! I hope you will come back tomorrow and I will share with you why our son actually asked us if he could be home schooled. You may be sadly shocked when you hear his reason.

Yesterday over on MomLife Today I had some serious truth to share … I hope you’ll go see what I have to say about what your husband REALLY needs from you! I have been happily married for 25 years and this principle I have practiced is part of the reason why!

I hope the answer to that title is yes…because I am!

What’s a mom to do when it seems women’s clothing is getting stranger and skimpier? Well, when she has a teen son she raids his “out grown clothes” box and finds herself a few new clothes!

Heck yes!

I have a couple pair of jeans, new shorts and due to the low waistedness of them my muffin top (lament) seems relatively well camoflauged.

No, I won’t wear these clothes out in public – well maybe to a few places, you know the places where you will even go without make up. Yes, I go to places without make up and in boy clothes…don’t you?

Anywho…I almost missed the boat here, because this particular gathering of clothes was actually two season old and I thought I had already given them away.

I am gathering up “men’s clothes” to take to a local missions thrift store in a church because we recently learned the biggest item missing from most mission thrift stores is mens clothing!  Hubby agrees that he has way more clothes than he needs, so we have a big bunch of his clothes to take to Friendly Chapel. Knowing it will bless hard working men who are in need of nice men’s clothing makes me oh so happy!

I thought you should know that men’s clothing is a need in most all communities because you may want to gather up some men’s clothes to take to your local mission!

But put on lady clothes and make up before you go make your delivery!