Kissing Worms

God has blessed our family with wisdom and glimpses of him, even amidst our mess and hard, from even the littlest in our family. Here are words from my dear husband, Michael, written to Ike on his birthday earlier this week after recently having a fishing day together.

“He taught me how to kiss worms.

Isaac turns 3 years old today. And he continues to teach me a thing or two about life.

Last month we purchased nightcrawlers to go fishing. In the month to follow we kept them on the bottom shelf of the fridge and every day or two would touch one to make sure that they were alive and well. On our third and final fishing trip we had exhausted most of our supply of worms. After catching 10 fish the worms were more of the attraction than fishing. Isaac befriended our final worm, cuddled it tight, and kissed it.

It was genuine. It was real. He wasn’t trying to be funny. He loved that worm and felt that he could care for it in the palm of his hand.

It made me question who are the worms in my life that need a kiss? Does God truly have me in the palm of his hand with all of my messiness? He does…

He saved that Worm by throwing it in the lake. He wanted to make sure it would get to live on.

Happy Birthday Ike. Your vision is breathtaking.”

From our little family to yours, we pray you lovingly find the worms in your life and treat them with the innocence and love that our children often remind us of. And if you are in a season where you feel like a worm, find someone that values you right where you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made… we are all a little dirty.

Got a Refill?!

Refill. Simply put {because you know that’s how I like life – simple}, is “to fill again”. Walking through the house this week, it seems like EVERYTHING needs refilled. From the water pitcher to the hand soap to the shampoo and the list goes on. And then, as I make tea desperately hoping for a few quiet moments while the youngsters play, I realize I too need a refill. And not a typical refill… it’s the soul, life-giving refill that looks different for every person but I truly believe there are two consistent components.

First, but not foremost, community. Sometimes I honestly look here before I look to the main piece… which is backwards but the reality. Do you know we are specifically created for community, fellowship, friendship? We are not created to walk this life solo, without a friend to be spurred on by or a partner to pray with. Community looks different, depending on the season… only a select few have stuck for years… while others are strategically placed on my path, by my Provider, at just the right time. One thing is sure – community is key to being refilled. Sometimes it’s fellow moms, other times military family, yet others musicians… you get the picture. Go with the flow. God’s got the details, right down to who answers the text or the phone or randomly cross your path.

So, I eluded to it in who has the details but here’s the main piece of being refilled: God, Father… the one and only who offers ultimate Peace, Wisdom, Calm, Strength, Energy. Where do you go to refill? The scripture that He has laid on my heart for 23.5 months and going strong {yes, exactly that time period}, is Psalm 139. It reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. That my God has known me since before I was even conceived and that He planned each and every one of my days.

So… where do you turn to be refilled?! What pieces of the puzzle do you need, do you need to rebuild, do you need to establish? Whatever it is, wherever you are – simply be refilled. Empty does no good, whether it’s hand soap or a heart. So, go on – refill yourself! {it’s not selfish, it’s a necessity}

SIDE NOTE: How do we refill our wonderful hand soap?!
8 oz. foaming hand soap bottle
2 Tablespoon Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Castile Soap
20 drops Thieves essential oil {from Young Living}
7 oz. water
{OR… if our budget allows, the Thieves Foaming Hand-soap from Young Living is delightful!}