A good read...

My husband I have struggled with infertility since we got married more than 6 years ago. Here is an excellent read on ministering to those who struggle with infertility. It's well worth your time.

If at first you don't succeed, try again.

I'm 31 years old and I've had numerous chances to read The Bible in a year.... NUMEROUS! I've started several times and I've failed every single time. Aaaahhh! I've failed every single time I've tried! Not this year! Starting New Year's day, I'll star the Eat This Book reading plan. I'm looking forward to doing it with family this time. Accountability is good for me and helps me to be successful. I've printed out the plan and the intro to Genesis and Exodus to get me through January. I'm hoping you'll help keep me accountable or maybe you want to read along with us. That would be great!

If you're looking for a Bible reading plan, check out Justin Taylor's list here.

May there's something you've tried over and over again and have yet to succeed. For me I also need to keep at it with weight lost... I'm down 25 lbs and have a long way to go but I'm making progress and that's another day's post. What do you need to finish? I need to do this. I need to finish. I'm prepared and ready!

A place to call home...

For a while our family was part of a church plant in Spartanburg. We were a close group since the church was still small and we both served and were served. It was great and we truly did life together with the families there. Then, the church dissolved and we had already felt God calling us to worship closer to home. Fast forward a few years and we are not a part of Fellowship Greenville on Hwy. 14 in Greenville. We are part of a small group and for the first time in years feel as though we are at home. One thing that was fundamental in our search for a new church family was teaching Scripture verse by verse. Today we finished Hebrews at church. I challenge you to listen to the sermons if you're interested or feel like your faith needs to be challenged. Our teaching pastors are Godly men who desire to see you grow in your faith and help you to understand what's in the Bible. So check out the website and under resources you will find the sermon audio. I promise you won't be disappointed.

To Santa or not to Santa?

Christmas is over. I've already taken down the tree and put the decorations away. The only tree that remains is in my two-year-old's room simply because I don't have the heart to take it down just yet. She smiles with joy when she looks at it, so I let her enjoy it for a few more days.

So my daughter is two (25 months if you want to get exact). Since the day she was born when Christmas comes up I am torn. Do we believe in Santa or not? I always go through the same arguments in my head. My husband and I both had Santa and well, I think we turned out ok. But then I start thinking of the spiritual aspects of believing in Santa. I never want her to believe that the holiday is because of Santa. No, the holiday is ONLY because of God's gift to mankind, His Son. I want her to understand that and this year we talked a lot about Baby Jesus and when we prayed we thanked God for Baby Jesus but let's be honest, when you're two at Christmas you're inundated with Santa Claus.

I know many parents who don't teach any Santa at all and they only teach Christ's birth. I know some who teach St. Nick (the original) and how generous he was and combine the two. Its so frustrating trying to discern what is best. So last night I started Raising Great Kids: Parenting with Grace and Truth. (I quickly decided that much more would be learned from the book in a group setting instead of individually. Any takers?) But as I'm reading and thinking how I want my daughter to understand truth and to grow in character so that the values we teach now are still with her when she's 12 and 22 and then when she teaches her own children.

So there has to be an answer a right or wrong... right? Or maybe its what's right for my family and what's right for yours? I don't think we taught anything this year that will stick if we choose to not do Santa or if we choose to do Santa.

I'd love to hear what your family does and why you do it that way. That part is important. So leave a comment and let me know.