adorable

He is just too cute!

the high calling of motherhood

Mother: You have a mission field

Our first and primary mission field is our children. God values our children. Jesus became indignant when the disciples didn't embrace the worth of children in God's expanding kingdom (Mark 10:13-16). God tells us that children are his blessing to us (Ps. 127:3). And he places great importance on our teaching our children to love and serve him (Deut. 6:7-9). Don't feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years. Your availability, sensitivity, affection, and unhurried attention are irreplaceable. There are no neutral moments in a young child's life. Someone is going to be influencing your children, inculcating values and imprinting standards on their impressionable young minds. Let it be you! Accept your calling from God to serve your family. As a mother, you are helping to shape the souls of your children for Christ and ultimately influence the world. Your children are your gift to the future.

Stay on mission

Does this mean you will never invest in others outside your family? Goodness, no. But if you are a young mother, stay on mission. Use your primary ministry of mothering to serve Christ now. Don't let anything diminish your unique role as a wife and mother. It is not godly guilt that would call you away from a wholehearted investment in your little ones for his sake.

 

"Don't feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years."

 

This season in your life is just that—a season. And each season is a divine calling from our creator and king. Organizing a new event at church is important. Teaching your little boy to be kind to his sister is also important. But which one can best be done by you during this season? Serve God well by ministering to your children first. Very soon they will be grown and gone, and you will be unable to recapture the teachable moments you have now.

Mothers, listen to Psalm 78:4-7: "We will . . . tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done . . . that the next generation might know . . . so that they should set their hope in God."

 

Excerpt taken from Jani Ortlund .. to read the entire post, visit here.

 
 

the "W" conference

Overview of the conference from SBTS:

God has called women to discipleship, evangelism and service to the church.

“But I feel pulled in a hundred directions? …Where do I find wisdom on which way to go?”

Being a woman is complicated, especially being a young woman in this mixed-up world. If the questions above enter your mind then the W conference was created just for you. W wants to help you apply the Bible’s teachings on womanhood to the situations that women often find themselves in. Being all that God has designed you to be isn’t always easy and without tribulation. W is intended to help and encourage you to live out your calling to make an eternal difference in His Kingdom.

W will encourage you to grow deeper in your faith and conference speakers will also address the biblical teachings on purity, relationships, dating, marriage, balance, wise spending, spiritual walk, making a difference, and more.

W is designed for young women, high school and college students and young adults. This Friday night and Saturday conference will be held on the campus of Southern Seminary on Nov. 19-20, 2010.

For more information, please go here.

my sweet family

Had a great time this evening snapping some photos of my in-laws. The kids were so cooperative!

baby news

We have a beautiful baby boy!

Wyatt Michael Eaton

two weeks

the official countdown is on.

two weeks

baby clothes washed

pampers stocked

excitement is rising

names ready

carseat cleaned

sleeping while we still can.

found Baby Magic lotion.

boy

girl

we cannot wait to find out

sneak peek

Had a session this afternoon with an adorable baby girl! She was so happy and we had beautiful weather.

Tonya

little helpers

I went out to the field behind our house to try to take some fall pictures of the trees. Had my two little helpers along! They were more interested in being silly and wanting me to take their photo.

Tonya

Kaci rides a horse

Who would have ever thought that Kaci would fall in love with riding horses? I wish I could have been on the trail to watch her. Taj said it was unreal how much she enjoyed it! She wanted the reins, told the horse to "go" and even learned how to guide the horse right and left. I will post about our overall experience at Rawhide Ranch but just had to put Kaci on here first!


ready to go


love the safety hats the kids had to wear


one happy little girl after her ride

The video won't load so I will have to try again in the morning.

Tonya

rawhide ranch

We just got home a few hours ago from our short family vacation at Rawhide Ranch in Brown County. We had a great time and the kids didn't want to leave! More details and photos coming soon. Just wait until you see Kaci riding her horse!

Tonya