Story time at the Library

The Redding Library story hour was full of little people this Tuesday. Adiah looks like she is squirming as a little boy stares at her. I didn't even notice this interaction until I looked at this picture later. How cute! They read stories of Sea Animals this week and the little guy that plays the guitar and sings was there. I always wonder where he learns the songs he sings. Everytime I hear him he has new and fun songs to sing with the kids. The danced and sang with him it was so cute. They then had the kids color sea horses. It was fun. I loved having the pregnant mom's that came by themselves while their kids were in school. You girls are so cute. It was a fun day. I love you girls. Next week we have small groups. We will be meeting at my home Erica Edwardson and Alyssa Lances home. If you have not been assigned to a group please feel free to join either group. Hope to see you this week.

Disciples in the making!

When I think of discipleship and leading others it is impossible not to think of my kids. I know God has put some women in my life right now to walk with, but more than anything I see how I am leading my kids.
I am the person they see and hear the most from. They listen to my words, sometimes obeying, watching my every move and learning from me all day everyday. What a huge responsibility! How can I teach my kids to live and love like Jesus does? It has to start with me being a follower and learner of Jesus. They are going to imitate me more than I realize. This can be scary, they always seem to pick up my bad habits!
There are times that they see my impatience as well as times they hear my unkind words. I am learning as I go to constantly model the life and love of Jesus. As a disciple I realize that I am always learning even when I am leading.
One of the things God has been teaching me with my kids is that my job is to constantly show them who they are in Jesus. Everyday they need to be learning the power that they have, the words that can give peace and healing, and how their hands can help to encourage and bring love to others around them.
As I disciple my kids I am constantly leading, training and preparing them for the choices they will have to make when I am not there. It is a life long calling as a mom and I am committed to the process of seeing my kids become more like Jesus. Everyday brigs new chaos and adventures, and I am thankful for this life I get to live with my kids following along side of me.

September-December 2009 Schedule

Mom’s Group Schedule

September

1 Small Groups @ Rebecca and Jamie’s Home 9:30-11:30
8 Library Story Time 10:30 – 11:30
15 Small Groups@ Erica and Alyssa’s Home 9:30-11:30
22 Park Day 9:30-11:30
25 Ladies Night Out –Movie Night @ Linda Van Aukens
29 G-Force Gymnastics 11:00-12:00

October

6 Small Groups @ Rebecca and Jamie’s Home 9:30-11:30
13 Library Story Time 10:30-11:30
20 Small Groups @ Erica and Alyssa’s Home 9:30-11:30
23 Ladies Night Out- All Fired Up
27 Park Day Costume Extravaganza 9:30-11:30

November

3 Small Groups@ Rebecca and Jamie’s Home 9:30-11:30
10 Library Story Time 10:30-11:30
17 Small Groups@ Erica and Alyssa’s Home 9:30-11:30
20 Ladies Night Out- TBA
23 Happy Thanksgiving (no mom’s group)

December

1 Small Groups @ Rebecca and Jamie’ Home 9:30-11:30
8 Library Story Time 10:30-11:30
15 Christmas Party
22 Merry Christmas (no mom’s group)
29 Happy New Year (no mom’s group)

Mom's with a Mission

Hey Ladies, welcome back from the summer. I love the summer and am so excited about this fall. We have some new and fun things planned and our women are on it for fun "night's out" this fall. I will put the schedule up next blog.

I am so excited about this fall. We have assigned you all into home groups so that it will be a little more intimate in homes. We have grown so much in the last couple years and home groups seem to work really well to go deeper in relationships. Make sure that you check the home groups out. If you are out there and are wondering how do I get involved with the Stirring mom's please email Jamie Hartley @ thestirringmoms@gmail.com . She will put you on a email list where you will hear all the updates and changes made to the schedule. Please join us we are excited to have you part of our family.

As Rebecca was saying below,make sure and read it if you haven't already, we are talking about discipleship at the Stirring. This is something that is stirring in my heart right now. I as a mom of four kids, struggle with what I can and can't do in ministry. I always wish that I can do more and God is always reminding me that my kids are my first ministry. Many people have told me this and I must admit that I began to get irritated by hearing this. Yah yah, I would think in my head my kids are my first ministry.

As I began to look inward at why was I getting so tired of hearing this. I began to wonder if I really knew how to do this. I don't. Haha but I am learning and am now excited to learn. As Nate and Dan began to talk about discipleship I began to get excited about how I could implement all that they talked about in my everyday life. If you haven't been their for the last three weeks I highly recommend you get the pod casts.

Nate talked about how few people will ever have a moment where they are called to be who God has made them to be. We as mom's have the ability not only to stoke that fire in our kids, but we are able to an extent, guard that flame and stoke it into a mighty flame. I don't want the world to define who my kids are I want to tell them. I want to give my kids courage to walk as light in a dark world. I want to speak hope into them so that they can give it away. I want to fully immerse them into the power of the Holy Spirit like Dan talked about. I don't want to find myself just surviving my kids childhood. I want to be a mom with a mission.
Here are my little disciples. Boy do I have my work cut out for me. I love my life.

Discipleship

We started a new series two weeks ago on Discipleship on Sunday mornings. Nate and Dan have talked about what it looks like to walk with the people who are in our lives....to walk with a community. How to get along side people in our lives and encourage them, speak courage into them. Hold their hand and jump with them.

I've been thinking about what this looks like for us as moms. Last night I was on my hands and knees cleaning floors till midnight, and was just talking with God about the Women in our church, and moms, and my friends, my family, my marriage. And through 409 and rags God just started reminding me of not the people I am discipling, but all you moms who encourage me. Who push me. Who inspire me to be a better mom, a better friend, a better wife. Through the years I have been blown away by countless displays of love by you all. All the dinners we provide to new moms, or families going through hard times. Prayers and words spoken to encourage each other. For me personally, the amount of love and support from all of you after my miscarriage. The willingness to rally together and bless a new mom, or a single mom in need. Or just the eagerness to hang out and have a fun girls night out. Man, there have been so many things that I remember being so blown away and blessed by (and of course, I can't think of any specifics). I truely could not imagine being a part of any other community of women. I just want you all to know how I walk away from every womens night outs, or mom groups, or coffee dates, feeling so loved, so full of joy, so grateful to live this journey out with such good friends, and amazing women. You all encourage me. You all speak courage into my life. Thank you so much for that!

It's Ladies Night

O what a night it will be! We have a ladies night out coming up girls. July 24th @ 7 p.m. Heidi Marker will be hosting a ladies night of games and hanging out at her home. Please bring a game and a snack or drink to share with everyone. She lives in Bella Vista in an amazing home. It will be so fun and relaxing so please join us. Her address is 23050 Somerset Dr. If you plan to attend please rsvp Heidi @549-3194 or eventdesignbyheidi@gmail.com. There will be no childcare for this event and if you all could car pool that would be amazing because parking is limited. I can't wait this is going to be so nice to get away. Hope to see you all there.

G-Force!

The Stirring moms and kids hit G-force today. It is no longer Nor-Cal Elite. It was nice to be out of the sun and in a cool place. The kids always have a super fun time and always are a little sad when the time comes to go. All the kids loved jumping into the foam pit and Zeke has a pretty awesome flip he can do into it. I was impressed I must admit. Bailee has some sweet moves on bars as well. Our kids are so talented I can't wait to see what they will someday accomplish. All you moms out there have an amazing week. Stay cool and Rosetta had her little boy Liam on Monday so text her a congrats or go say,"hi" at Mercy if you can.
Yes this is Asher my two year old pulling around Zeke six years old. It's hilarious.