LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Trusting our broken pieces to the Ultimate Artist

Dear Frazzled Mom, You Are Not Alone!

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Today I’m sharing a guest post from my sister, Meghan. She is a work-from-home mom living in Franklin, TN with her husband and three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5, and two black labs. She spends her time serving at her church, putting back together things her son has taken apart, remodeling her fixer-upper home, and giving up on trying to keep shoes on her kids.

frazzled mom

Dear Frazzled Mom, (…from one Frazzled Mom to another…)

For those of you feeling a little down today or like you just can’t get things right, let me give you a little grace and humor by basking in my failures today.

Picked up RK (3) from pre-school today and her teacher informed me that:

1. her pants were on backwards (because she dressed herself this morning) and

2. she didn’t have any panties underneath said backwards pants (because she dressed herself this morning…and her drawer was empty b/c the clean panties are in a basket on the floor).

Evidently, she provided all the teachers with a good laugh today b/c her pants were a little big, so there was a lot of plumbers crack today in class. Bless.

After pick-up, I realize my gas light is on and I have exactly enough gas to get to Costco to fill up. Pull into Costco as it rolls to “0 miles” on my tank. Yay! Until I realize I have my Costco card, my drivers license, my checkbook, but not my wallet with the only form of payment Costco accepts (cards).

How does that even happen??

I don’t have enough gas to get back home or even to another gas station. I don’t have cash to pay someone.

So today I was “that person” who got to humbly ask the person next to me if I could use his credit card to put $10 in my tank and I would write him a check for $10 because I had no gas in my tank. He looked at me like I was crazy, I acknowledged that yes, it was a crazy request, but I didn’t know what else to do.

He mumbled something about things like this happening at the Wal-Mart gas station…not Costco. Then graciously accepted my check for $10 while I tried to avoid the stares of the other 6 people who overheard the conversation. I seriously considered showing him a screenshot of my bank account so he would believe me when I told him the check was good.

Oh. my. goodness. What has happened to my brain? And y’all. This is not an isolated incident. Things like the first example (not the second…that one’s a little extreme) happen all the time.

So if you ever think that the rest of your friends have it all together and you don’t, think twice, my friends. It’s a facade.

Let’s be real with each other, admit our failures, and extend grace to one another. It makes it easier to laugh instead of cry when we have to bum $10 worth of gas off a stranger to get home.

family pic

Five Minute Friday – Here

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We travel on, the road winding as the water from the lake peaks through the evergreen trees. “Is that our lake?” my friend Mollie asks. “It sure is!” quickly escapes from my lips, excitement apparent.

FMF retreat view

The lake is such a beautiful and peaceful setting for a retreat!

“We should be there any minute.”

And then, all of a sudden…we are here.

“Here” is an unassuming lake house in the middle of a neighborhood on the outskirts of Nashville, TN. We’re gathered with a handful of brave women who share words and hearts each week as writers part of the Five Minute Friday community.

In the past few years, I’ve learned that although I’m as introverted as they come, I too need community. I too need to be brave and venture outside of my little circle of friends.

While the comfort of being known is just that – comfortable – I’m learning there is something special about the process of becoming known.

FMF Retreat LeeAnn and Janel

Thank you Jen for capturing this moment!

So I’m here, baby girl in tow, sharing a little bit of life, breaking through the fear of the unknown, meeting new friends, and enjoying being here.

 

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday series. Each week writers from all over the world gather together around a one-word writing prompt, sharing words and stories and hearts. The words spill out, unedited and free. This week’s word is HERE.

Consider one way you can be brave this week. Seek out community and authentic relationships, take a risk, and let God handle the details!

 

It’s Time to Jump!

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Have you ever had an idea for a new project or wanted to learn a new skill or implement a new routine in your life but when you thought about it, you just got stuck?

Instead of jumping in and taking action, you pondered all the ways that something might go wrong or convinced yourself you weren’t really good enough or the right person to complete the task.

Surely I’m not the only one who has experienced this!

Here’s the thing.

When you first learned to ride a bike as a kid, what if you had hemmed and hawed over all the things that might go wrong? Instead of getting on the bike and peddling, what if you sat on the curb wondering what it would feel like if you fell and scraped your knee or how terrible it would be if the neighborhood kids saw you wobbling and laughed.

I’d venture to say you never would have learned to ride a bike. Then, think about all the fun you would have missed out on.

Sometimes to experience or new things in life as adults, we need to channel our inner kid and just jump!

So…what are you waiting for?

Today, take a leap of faith, take a risk.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, enjoy this precious life we’ve been given!

What is something new you’ve been thinking about taking action on that you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to begin? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another to, as Jon Acuff says… just Start!

LeeAnn jumping

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday community where we write for five minutes on a one-word writing prompt each week. Today’s prompt was “Try”. 

Doubt, Control and Rest

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Have you ever wondered if God is real?

To some “good church-going Christians,” the thought of even asking that question may send them into a panic.

But while we may never verbally express this type of doubt, sometimes the way we live our lives is evidence of our struggle in this faith journey.

Real Life and Rest

I’ll share an example from my own life this week.

I’ve been blessed to be a part of a ladies Bible study at a local church and we’re currently using Priscilla Shirer’s video series and journal, Breathe, to dig deeply into the concept of the Sabbath rest.

Some of us are so busy going from one thing to the next each day that the idea of rest seems impossible. Others of us can’t let go of the perfectionistic tendencies and our desperate desire to have things just so.

God stopped. He rested. And He prescribes the same for you and me. ~ @PriscillaShirer #SabbathRest

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I was convicted that my lack of willingness to stop and rest is evidence of my lack of trust in God.

While I might be concerned about ALL. THE. THINGS. around the house, with Chuck and the kids, responsibilities at work, paying off debt, selling our house, plans for the future, etc., what I’m truly revealing is my lack of faith that He will redeem that “lost time” for those of us who have a production mindset.

What about you? Do you also struggle with trying to control your time or do you remember to have a mindset of rest?

What tips do you have for remembering to take time to rest your mind, your body, and your soul?

This post is part of Five Minute Friday {Real} where we’re given a writing prompt and encouraged to write for five minutes of free writing. It’s a beautiful community of women sharing their words and wisdom each week! This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}. Income from the blog helps fund Eva, our sponsored child through Compassion International.

My Plan or God’s Plan?

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I’m a planner by nature.

I like order, lists, and knowing what’s going to happen.

My Myers-Briggs personality type is ISTJ. If you look that up, you’ll see words like:

  • organized
  • methodical
  • logical
  • fact-based

Despite a crazy schedule and a house full of energetic kids, my notepads for list making, a variety of productivity iphone apps, and a long list of Google calendars keep me organized and ready to tackle my to-do list for the day.

desk-notebook-notes

So it’s no surprise that releasing my {perceived} control over everyday situations is a challenge for me.

If you check out a portrait of an ISTJ, you’ll see the words “The Duty Fulfiller” prominently displayed at the top of the page.

There is no question that I relate my performance, fulfilling all of my self-imposed “duties”, to my value as God’s child.

Here’s the thing though.

It doesn’t matter how much I plan my days, weeks, months, or years, as a Christian, it is God who gives my life value. It is HIS vision for my life that is played out through my actions when I surrender my life to Him, moment by moment.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21

I’d do well to remember to defer to God’s plans, not my own, as I seek to live a life full of purpose and meaning.

How about you? Do you struggle like me to remember to seek the Lord as you make plans for your life?

This post is part of Five Minute Friday {Plan} where we’re given a writing prompt and encouraged to write for five minutes of free writing. It’s a beautiful community of women sharing their words and wisdom each week! Also sharing with the Weekend Brew, Fellowship Friday, and Faith & Fellowship. This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}. Income from the blog helps fund Eva, our sponsored child through Compassion International.

You Were Made To Fly ~ Faith & Fellowship Friday {A Community Link-Up}

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What’s holding you back from a rich spiritual life?

For me for the longest time it was years spent in a religious tradition that valued rules and regulations over relationship. While I developed strong relationships with other Christian brothers and sisters, many of whom are still some of my closest friends, my relationship with God suffered.

When I was 16, I knew there was something more that I was missing. I wondered aloud to my sister in the car one day, “Why have we been taught all these things about God but no one has ever taught us how to know Him?“

Years later I’m just now discovering the freedom Christ offers us as believers.

God woke me up this morning with the lyrics to the song Make Me More Free playing over and over in my mind. Maybe I needed a reminder!

(click the play button to listen)

Help me to see, free me

To see You and know You

To know I am known

Help me to see You, see me

And know I am Yours alone

With wings like an eagle, my heart made to fly

Over sin, over sorrow, to new realms of life

From glory to glory, my gaze fixed so high

That I only see Jesus, the love of my life

My heart is no longer held back by a narrow interpretation of the body of Christ and instead I’ve started building stronger relationships with other Christians and with God, my creator, sustainer, friend, and provider. It’s a beautiful thing, freedom.

So what’s holding you back in your spiritual walk?

Be encouraged today. Christ came to set you free. God promises to provide and loves you as His child. Break free and FLY!

Isaiah 40:31 wings like eagles

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday weekly link-up. Today’s writing prompt was HOLD.
 
Also, I’m so excited to be co-hosting this week’s Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop along with Susannah from Simple Moments Stick. Take a moment to link up your latest encouraging, faith-building posts. Let’s continue to encourage one another on this journey of becoming more like Jesus.

 

So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.
Faith and Fellowship Guidelines

1.  Link up a post (not just the link to your blog) from the week that shares what the Lord’s been doing in your life or speaking to you.2.  Put the button on your blog post or blog so that others can hear about this wonderful group of Godly women.

3.  Visit as many blogs as you’re able and get to know your sisters in Christ!

4.  Share this blog hop on social media using #faithandfellowship or pin the button on Pinterest.

Simple Moments Stick

Your Host:

Susannah1Susannah from Simple Moments Stick
 If you’d like to cohost in the future, please email Susannah at susannah.kellogg (at) gmail.com

This Week’s Co-Host:

LeeAnn from Embracing the Mosaic Life

 

Now it’s your turn! Link up your faith-based, encouraging posts here:

 

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