I've lived in the Low Country for two years now and I was convinced that it is always summer here.  But thanks to tropical storm Beryl, it hasn't felt much like summer.  Rain, rain, and more rain!  My flowers and our yard love it.  Come the super hot days of July, I will long for this abundance of rain. 

I'm working on our summer list.  If you don't live life on purpose, the days get away.  I want to be sure we get in lots of summer fun and memories, so, my summer list is in the works. 

Things that should be included?  Picnics, kite flying, beach reading, sand castle building, ballgame watching, fireworks...

How about you?  Whatcha doing this summer?  Give me some inspiration. 

Y'all!  I'm so excited!  The Chief and I are leading our first ever eGroup (online small group)!  We have small groups at our church throughout the year and enjoy those so much!  When we were choosing a topic for our next group, we really wanted to do something to encourage the Family.  Cause you know, if we want praying churches we need praying families.  And you know, the most important small group we'll ever lead is at home.  But we just couldn't imagine asking parents to take time away from their families to talk about family.  So, the idea was developed to have an eGroup.  That way, parents can "show up" for meetings on their own time and at their own convenience.  Love it!

Want to join?  Go here to sign up.  (See the contact form at the bottom of the page.  Choose "Family Devotions eGroup" from the drop down menu.)

Session starts Monday, June 11!

Happiness is a warm puppy.
-Charles M. Schulz

From rising early to ler her out, spending their dollars on puppy toys, and scooping poop, the kids are doing a great job as dog owners.  It is as much work as the chief and I expected but definitely more work than the kids expected.  I'm proud of them for being responsible and honoring their commitment.  Nellie rewards them generously with puppy love.  If they are away from her any time at all, she can't contain her excitement when she sees them again. 

Dear Trent kids,

Please be so kind as to remove "Dog" from your prayer list. 

Love,

Mom

(This chalkboard table message greeted me early this morning.)

My husband is the lead pastor at LHC Hampton (Lighthouse Church).  Every so often he asks me to share something during our morning service.  How my husband does it week after week, I don't know.  (He'll tell you it is all God.) 

He gave me the honor of speaking to the mothers today.  After a lot of prayer (A LOT), I felt led to challenge mother's everywhere to be the prayer warriors of the home.  Here's a portion of what the Lord gave me to say:

Y’all have heard the saying, If momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.  Well, if momma ain’t praying, nobody’s praying.  Ladies’ we are the thermostat of the home.  Rather than being a thermometer and registering what we think is going on around us, we can choose to be a thermostat and set the temperature of our home. 

Young ladies, the Lord has a plan for your life.  The enemy tries to deceive you.  The enemy wants to give you a counterfeit plan.  The enemy wants you to settle.  Don’t be deceived.  God doesn’t do things half way.  He doesn’t give you a half way future.  He gives you the total package.  Purpose in your heart today to not settle for anything less than the total package.

Friends who are aching to be mothers, we feel your longing.  We long with you and we desire to bear your burden to the Lord.  We desire to pray over you and ask that the Lord open your womb.  We have the faith for this.  You have the faith for this.  We ask right now that the Lord raise up intercessors all over the world to pray for you. 

Mommas of small children, God is with you.  Each day that you face another day of too much to do - God is with you.  You are never alone.  He is your rest, your peace, he will see you through this season.  And someday not so long from now, you will remember these days with joy and even longing to return to them.  We pray that you feel his presence, his rest, his peace, and his joy each day!

Mommas of grown children, be at peace.  God carries your children in the palm of his hand.  You don’t have to be the fixer, just be the pray-er.  Bear the burden of prayer.  Lean heavily upon the Lord to lead and guide.  Exercise your authority as the prayer warrior of your family. 

Mommas of spiritual children, The privilege of carrying a soul is always yours. Your heart is always open and welcoming another person to find nourishment and comfort.  You are an influencer.  You pour into the lives of others.

Happy Mother's Day, sweet friends!  My gift (prayer) for you:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

He is so kissable. 

17 lbs and 10 oz (By far our biggest baby!)

25.5 inches

Every baby needs a lap.  ~Henry Robin

Six laps + friends laps + extended family laps = spoiled baby

He is so fun!  Interacts more and more.  Loves to laugh, rolls, grabs his toys, knocked over sister's drink, jabbers "mama" "dada", plays with hands and feet, pulls off socks, sits without support, pulls knees under tummy and lunges forward (pre-crawl), likes peek-a-boo and tickle tickle.  His first tooth is poking through with three more suspicously close. 

Still doesn't sleep through the night.  I should have known after four good sleepers, I was due for a nonsleeper. ;)  

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.  ~Leo J. Burke

He is in a hurry to be big.  I just want him to stay little. 

I've tried a lot of baby carriers and my absolute favorite is the Moby Wrap.  My cousin gave me one as a gift when our first baby boy was born.  He loved it!  Once he outgrew it, I gave it to a friend who was fostering newborns of mothers with addictions.  Great therapy for those little ones. 

That left me needing one for our new little guy.  I discovered how to make my own.  Isn't the internet wonderful?  Information at our fingertips! 

He loved the "newborn upright" and the "cradle hold" when he was a newborn but now he thinks he is a big guy and he likes the "kangaroo hold". 

But don't be fooled he is still a little guy who falls asleep in his moby. 

P.S.  Moby Wrap Instructions found here.

Chubby baby.

Her strawberry shortcake. 

Our kids love to make their own bday cakes.  She decorated hers with whipped topping.  It was yummy!

He made his own cake too (mommy helped).

We took him out for a 5th birthday lunch.  The restaurant treated him to a bday dessert. 

Sun was in his eyes.  Maybe my fave 5th bday pic.

My baby holding my baby. 

Another of my babies holding HER baby.  (Her vivid imagination brings that baby to life.) 

Happy Friday everyone!  May your weekend be abundantly blessed! 

It's hard to believe it has been fourteen years since I first held her in my arms.  Long after friends and family oohed and ahhed over her, in the quiet of the evening, I scribbled these words,

Our lives are changed forever.  Katie Madison Trent has entered the world.  Katie gives meaning to "bundle of joy". 

Sweet baby, I have never felt joy like the joy that flooded my soul the instant you took a breath.  God has given you, a perfect little being, to us, imperfect and unpracticed parents.  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The words of a young momma with so much to learn and so many mistakes to make.  She is my firstborn.  She made me a mother.

In honor of her 14th birthday, 14 things about Katie:

1.  She loves and I mean really loves to play a good prank. 

2.  She has always been "happy go lucky".

3.  She can thrift shop like no other.  The girl's got a good eye for a bargain.

4.  She likes to make her own birthday cake.  (Usually strawberry shortcake.)

5.  This year she made two birthday cakes.  Strawberry shortcake and caramel cake.

6.  She loves to paint.  She is blessed to have an art mentor who is teaching her so much.

7.  Her socks NEVER match.  On purpose.

8.  She is a little momma.  Takes care of her siblings, her friends... Her youth group nicknamed her "mom".

9.  She loves loves loves her baby brothers.

10.  Her sisters are her best friends.

11.  Anne of Green Gables is her favorite movie ever.

12.  She can name all the Duggars.

13.  She is almost taller than her momma.

14.  Her favorite candy is Hot Tamales. 

1.  People look at you crazy when you tell them you have 5 kids.

2.  When people say, "You have your hands full," you can respond by saying "I only have one hand full."

3.  You can say, "be quiet" all you want.  It's never gonna be quiet in your house.  Ever.

4.  Quiet is overrated.

5.  Five times the love.  Five times the joy.  Five times the laundry...