When Mama is sick

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

This is difficult thing to do; especially if you are the type of person who is used to doing everything.

I run around most days with a mantra that's closer to "If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself."  And guess what?!  My body decided to not let me do anything for a while!  

Without going into a long explanation, I have had some stomach issues lately.    And on top of that, I managed to catch some bronchitis.  My body has decided it has had enough of me doing everything for everyone and has called it quits.

Needless to say, I've been having to learn how to rest and relearn how to take better care of me.  If for no other reason than "When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Part of this is wrapped up in this verse from Psalms.  

Be Still 

 

stop moving and just breath

stop trying to fix everything 

stop trying to control everything

be in the moment

And Know

that God is in control

that I am where I need to be

that I am loved infinitely

abundantly

beyond all measure

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

 

The Least of These

Being a mother has it's many rewards, but it can also be a demanding job.

It means eating most of your meals cold.
It means taking care of everyone even if you're sick or tired.
It means second-guessing yourself as a parent, even if you're doing an admirably.
At times it is tedious and for the most part, it is a thankless job.

There are times when I wonder if it is really what God has called me to do with my life?
Surely, God had something better in mind than changing daipers... right?

In Matthew 25 Jesus says, "What you do for the least of these, you do for me.."

The least of these...

In my small corner of the kingdom, that would be my children.

Which means, when I kiss their scrapes, and get them drinks before bed, and sometimes loose sleep, and all the other myriad of things I do as a mother, I am doing it for the glory of God.

It means, I am serving Christ by helping my children.  It means I am loving them as if they were, as our priest Hendree Harrison would say, "Christ, walking around."

And sometimes there are times, when even the least of these shows that they are learning to serve and love others too (even their mother)!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Beautiful Art

Did you know that you are God’s Masterpiece? 

What is a masterpiece? 

Definition of masterpiece: an artists’ greatest work.

Here are a couple of examples..

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Gate way to September by Charles Birchfield

Exquisite! 

Ephesians 2:10 

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

That’s YOU! You are God's masterpiece!

Blessings

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

4 boys

Raising 4 sons is a crazy job.  Basically I live in a house where if you don’t hear anything, either we’re not home, everyone’s asleep, or I’ve been captured by these wild creatures I call ‘my boys’ (Help!)

This is not a life for the faint of heart!

-  You must be able to talk on the phone while simultaneously tuning out a reenactment of Stars Wars and be able to supply costumes at a moments notice.

-Knowing how to cook large quantities is a must!  Growing boys eat!! It takes two shopping carts to go shopping for a week of groceries.  Yesterday at breakfast we went through 15 waffles, 5 bananas, and half a gallon of milk.  You do the math!

-Be prepared to answer all manner of questions in the subjects of anatomy, chemistry, physics, astronomy, history, paleontology, botany, and movie trivia.  As well as a working knowledge of math, first aid, and knock knock jokes. 

-Be able to tolerate strange smells and noises. A strong gag reflex is not required but is highly recommended. 

-You must know how to use “Drill Sargeant ” voice and know how to give “the look”.

- You must have an affinity for animals, especially dogs, bugs and anything with a tail.

-This job comes with a lifetime supply of rocks, sticks, hotwheels, army men, and Legos…to be randomly distributed between the washing machine, your purse and the floor.

-Experience in dare devil activities, building, mad science, house cleaning, stain removal, boo-boo kissing and bear hugs is recommended.

I love my job! I love my boys!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

God Winks

I believe in God's presence in our lives.  I believe God is always there.

And I have a tendency to forget this.  I go through my day, absentminded of God's interest and love.
But every so often, God calls me back and reminds me.  Sometimes it in the very, very small things.
I like to call these, "God Winks".
Some people would calls these things coincidences or weird. 
I would like to think it's a way of God saying to me, "I see you.  I'm watching."
I got the idea from reading wonderful book by SQuire Rushnell.  It's a wonderful collection of stories from people who have experienced God winking at them.

What is a God wink?
It's when you've been missing your friend and they call.
It's when the songs playing on the radio seem to match
what you're going through and sooth your soul.

Recently I lost my phone, and it taught me a lot, but it
was very frustrating.  I was mostly concerned with my
pictures and contact list (and Facebook and Intragram).

The next morning, I was able to get a little break from the boys to enjoy my morning coffee.
I sat outside on the bench swing facing the back yard, wishing I had my phone to look at and wondering where it was.  I said a little prayer to ask God to help me find it.
I had checked the whole house top to bottom.  So had sweetie!  So had the boys!
I had even offered $5 to the person who found it!
As I sat there I kept looking up towards the woods.  I had been up there earlier with the boys the previous, but I didn't think I had taken my phone back there.
It was the only place I didn't look.

Again and again I gazed up at the tree and the woods.  It was only after my entire cup of coffee spilled did I bother to walk up the hill to check.
There under a fallen log was my phone, protected and dry (it had rained all night).
The phone was undamaged and the battery was dead.
There would have been no way for me to know it was there.
I still don't remember taking it up there.

Have you ever had a God wink experience?

All around us there is tangible proof that we are dearly loved by God and that God is deeply interested in our lives (even in the little things)

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

For the Beauty of the Earth

It's been raining the last couple of days.
I love the rain!  The sound and smell of it!
I find it calming.

My children are a different story altogether.  They get all wild, like a bunch of pent-up wild cats.
Have you ever tried to herd cats?!

In the midst of the all this chaos, I was however able to capture a few pictures.

Rain in all its glory!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Independence

So yesterday,  I had this spectacularly grandiose blog typed up to post.
It was all about how independence means to be “in the world but not of it.”

Then I lost my new cell phone and got a real life lessons in how connected to the world I am.

Not having a phone made me realize how much time I spend looking at a screen instead of looking into my children’s eyes.

And it made me think of this..

http://www.refinery29.com/2015/10/95775/24-photos-that-show-what-you-really-look-like-on-your-phone

Think I might need to unplug more often.

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Other things I did yesterday

1. Watched birds 
The boys and I went outside to see if we could
spot any birds using a bird call/id app on my phone.
We lured a family of young Carolina Wrens with it.
Every time we hit the button they would come a little
bit closer.
While we were watching them a woodpecker flew in.



 

2. Washed dishes

 

3. Made popsicles 


            

4. Played

 

5. Made dinner
6. Got kids ready for bed
7. RELAXED
 

It was a very busy day!
I can also say though, that it was a good day.  I love my boys and I'm grateful to be their mama.

Soli  Deo Gloria
Barbara A. Ensley

Sunday Highlights

Today, was supposed to be a day of rest, and for a mama of 4 that might sound impossible.
There are different types of rest though (power napping) and for me it was taking a break with my children to have some fun.  I was a busy day but I think I can say it was a good day.

Good morning! It's early and I haven't had a cup of coffee yet but we're going to try to have a fun day together!

The boys and I decided to build a puppet theater or stage out of a couple of pizza boxes, some cardboard, some pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks and some fabric.

I helped them sew the curtain and for the most part Jonathan was entertained by sitting in my lap watching me sew.

I think the results were pretty good!

A puppet theater?! Sure! Why not!?

Tadaa!! 



   

I hope you had a blessed day!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Things you might hear said at my house...

"It's not nice to bite people."
"Stop drinking the dog's water!"
"Just because Cookie Monster makes a mess with his food doesn't mean you can too."
"Don't make me come in there!"
"Stop smashing the cracker with your toy."
"Get down!"
"If you're going to keep doing that at least put on a helmet."
"Here's some water to play with outside."
"Let's play water the plants while we're out here."
"You're naked...come back here!"
"Just stop fighting and act like you love each other!"
"Don't make me start counting...."

Never a dull moment! 

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

Why I named my blog Ebenezer

I love the name Ebenezer!

It means, "hither by they grace I've come".

It strikes a chord with me as I try to write this blog...

So far this morning I've
-changed 2 diapers
- fed 4 kids breakfast
-made and spilled 2 cups of coffee
-cleaned up 7 messes
-broken up 4 fights

-and the tally will keep going all day long....

There is never a dull moment, someone always needs something and just to write a blog is a challenge.

It is by grace that I have gotten this far through my day without loosing it completely.

Someday you might find me curled up in a corner but not today..

Thank you Lord!

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley

To Blog or Not to Blog

I have considered doing this for a long time...

It's not as if I don't have enough to do and I'm definitely not bored...

If fact, as the mother of four boys, there is never a dull moment around here.
Shall we say 3 Ring Circus?

However, I thought it might be helpful to my sanity to have a place to put my proverbial mental ramblings.  And perhaps you might be entertained or inspired by my wacky, wild life.

Soli Deo Gloria

Barbara A. Ensley