Lyndsie

I don't know how many of you may have read Lyndsie Brooker's blog in the past but she was a blog friend of mine.  She was 28 and the mother of two precious children and a husband who ADORED her.  I asked for prayer for her recently as she fought ovarian cancer for the fourth time.  I'm so sad to share that she passed away Friday night.  She is no longer suffering or in pain but she is with Jesus who she loved dearly.  She was a beautiful person inside and out.  Will you please pray for her family?
Here is her obituary: http://www.plattsfuneralhome.com/obituaries

And I love this post my friend Ashley wrote about her:

http://www.ourhappilyeverafters.com/2015/08/my-precious-friend-lyndsie.html

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

If you would like to watch the livestream of Addicted to Anxiety tonight at 6:30 - here is the link. It will also stay up so you can watch later!

http://livestream.com/fbcbentonville/events/4299104

I've been thinking a lot this past week about parenting.

The majority of parents (and I say majority because we all know there are people who have kids but have no business being parents) want the same things for our kids.  Whether you have faith or not, at the core we want our kids to be happy and loved and to be successful at whatever they choose.  We want them to be kind and loving and responsible citizens one day.

And we all may parent differently but I think we all hope the end result will be children who are better than we are ourselves.  We read books.  We get wise counsel.  We parent the way our parents did us.  We use reward systems. We use discipline methods.  And we choose what we do because we want the best for our children.

We may not agree with how others parent their children but we also cross our fingers hoping what we are doing works.  Right?

But even with the best intentions and a lot of prayer, even the most wonderful parents can have children who don't go the path they would choose for them.  I know amazing moms and dads who have kids who have ended up in jail or on drugs or with a teen pregnancy.  Those same parents may have other children who are doctors or successful parents or in the ministry.  And you scratch your head and wonder what went wrong and what can I do differently.

But it's all about free will.

We can't control the choices our kids make.  We can lovingly guide them.  We can instill values and teach them and when they are young and under our roof we can make it hard for them to make wrong choices but at the end of the day we can't control who they will become friends with or who they will marry.

And this makes me think about the question I am asked frequently.....
WHY WOULD A LOVING GOD SEND ANYONE TO HELL?

I don't think our loving God sends anyone to Hell.  He pursues us.  He loves us.  He whispers in our ears "I created you. I love you. I want you" over and over and over.  But He has given us free will.  It's our choice to choose if we want to follow Him or not.  And the choices we make spill over generationally.  If we choose not to follow Him or have Him in our lives, most likely our children won't either.

Just as our parenting methods and what our marriages look like can form how our children will relate to their families, our faith shapes the generations who come after us.

God could have MADE us to have no choice but to follow Him but He wanted it to be a decision we made out of love.  And I know it must grieve Him when His children who He knew before they spent a minute in the womb reject Him.   Much as it grieves a parent to watch their children take a path that leads to destruction and heartache.

I love my children and pray every day that God would be in every part of their lives.  That He would help them to choose friends wisely and pick a mate that will be their partner both in life and in faith and that they will have a life filled with joy.  But I know that might not be the case.  I also know that they may need to walk through some hard stuff in order to realize their need for Christ.  And I can't get in the way of that.

And I think God is the same with His Children.

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

Four Months Old

Will Holden you are four months old!!!!

You weigh close to 15 pounds are around 25 inches long.

You wear a size 3-6 months and a size 2 diaper.  

You are sleeping through the night and take a short cat nap in the morning and a longer nap each afternoon.  

You are always smiling and laughing.  You seem to be just really good natured.  You always wake up so happy.

You have started babbling and talking and it's so sweet. 

You ADORE your sisters.  You just love them and laugh so much for them.

And they are just in love with you! I love how much they love you. They fight over helping with you.  and Hollis just talks to you so sweet all the time in a little baby voice and Harper always says "Oh he's just the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

You have just made our family so complete and so happy! 

 Watching you grow is so fun! I can't believe how quickly it's going by!

All of my three at four months! 

And if anyone is wondering, you are a complete mini me of your daddy! 

First day of preschool

Sweet Hollis started preschool on Friday.  She was SOOOO ready to go to school.  I have to admit I like having her home.  When it's just her and Will Holden she is really helpful and she is great to run errands with.  She's really good to take places and just loves to help me.  She's so quiet normally around others but when it's just me and her, she will talk my ear off.   But I will still have two days where she is home with me.  

She wanted a picture with her backpack and lunch box.  She is very serious about school and so ready to read.  She is determined to know all of her ABC's so she can start reading.  She really already knows them but I can't convince her of that.  She writes her name and has been working on spelling out other words.  

Scott always tells me that Hollis is my mini me.  In looks and personality.  She has my stubbornness. And my dimple.  And my brown eyes. 

This is the last year for Hollis and her best friend Joseph to be together.  They will go to different kindergartens next year and they are already sad about that.  They are inseperable and so funny together.  They just giggle and Hollis bosses him around.  She's a "one friend" kind of girl and I'm glad her one friend is Joseph.  He has the sweetest parents and we are thankful for their family.  

Maybe if I still write this blog in 20 years (ha) - you can check back in and see if they really do end up married. 

This is our forth and last year at our preschool.  It has been a special place to both my girls.  I can't believe how quickly Hollis has gone from that little toddler to a confident little girl. 

And next year Will Holden will be holding the sign as he goes to MDO.  At least I will have four more years to enjoy that place! 

Fours, Fall and Fear

It's been an eventful week. 

Monday we hit the dentist.  This picture is my favorite because it's a typical day at the Stamps house. Harper is always happy.  Hollis was mad because "they drew a smiley face on Harper's toothbrush bag and NOT HERS".  It's always something to be mad about in her four year old middle child life.  It's almost hilarious the things she finds to cry about.  Hmmmm boy.  

I got a new stitch fix box and they sent the cutest top and some great jeans that fit for fall! I'm telling you - changing my age to 28 was the greatest thing I ever did.  If you feel like trying it - just roll your age back.  Unless you are already 20.  Then don't worry - you can wear anything you want! 

Hollis had preschool open house on Wednesday.  We have had Mrs. Pam for three years between my girls and we adore her.  I have made her promise to stay four more years so Will Holden can have her! 

This girl is SOOOO excited for school to start! 

August in Arkansas always means 90 degree days and high humidity and lots and lots of sweat.

But for whatever reason it was in the 60's this week.  I don't know what to do with that except buy mums and drive to starbucks.  I had to find warmer clothes for my girls to wear to school.  It's weird. 

BUT I'm not complaining. 

A new snow cone place opened this week and they have dole whips.  And they are amazing! (this is not on my diet but I had a kid size one anyway). 

My girls loved the snow cones but they also loved that they have spoons that change color when they get cold even more.  

Hollis idolizes her big sister so she is counting down the minutes until she can be at school with her.  She also wants to have homework like her so when they sent home some work for preschool she was absolutely thrilled.  She carried around her folder the rest of the day talking about her "homework".  She's way ahead of where Harper was at this age and I don't feel like I've worked with her at all.  

Harper has started wanting to pick out her own clothes this year and I'm totally fine with it.  I'm glad she wants to express her style.  She LOVES dresses and hates pants.  

I had a 504 meeting at school this week about her hearing aids and the assistant principal and teacher and nurse all told me that they just loved how Harper is always smiling and happy and full of joy.  She really is - I don't know what I did to deserve her.  

(And yet when she was two I cried a lot and wanted to bang my head against the wall.  Hard work and patience pay off when they are six or seven. )

LOCAL friends - we have a big event coming back up next Thursday at our church.  It's completely free - no tickets necessary! Just show up!!! It's going to be amazing! And Beth Moore sent us a personal selfie video talking about anxiety just for us! (She grew up with my friend Susan who is leading this!)  I hope to see you there!!!!!!

(This WILL be live streamed.  I will provide the link the day of!!)

And finally - just had to include this guy! I'm happy to have days alone with him now that school is back in swing! He's just the sweetest blessing! 

Be a Light

I shared this on Instagram but I know that a lot of you aren't on there and it bears repeating:

Had a special morning with our women's ministry team praying over our church preschool and MDO (mother's day out). 
My heart is very tender towards this because when I was 2 we didn't go to church and my dad wasn't a Christian. My mom put me in a MDO in a Baptist church and they were so loving that she began to attend church there and eventually got my dad to go and he was saved there. 
And just retired after 30 years as a pastor. 
The course of our lives were changed by a church MDO. (And the Holy Spirit working) 

Be a light no matter what you do - you never know how it might completely change a person's life for them to see Jesus in you.


So many of us feel like we need to do "big things" for God.  We think if we don't have a big platform and aren't speaking or writing books or going overseas, then we aren't making an impact.  And yet some of the most powerful kingdom work that is done is in the shadows of teaching children at preschool or making a meal for a neighbor who is sick or giving to someone in need.  You may never see the large oak tree that grows out of the tiny seed that you plant but that doesn't mean it's not important work.


Can we be a light today and pray for each other? I have a couple of prayer requests and then if you could add yours in the comments and/or commit to pray for at least one of these requests listed?

Lyndsie Brooker has been a blog friend of mine for pretty much forever.  She is a beautiful mom of two precious children.  And she is fighting ovarian cancer for the 4th time at the age of 28.  She desperately needs our prayers.  


And please also pray for Haley, a young wife who just lost her baby boy Chandler when she was 7 months pregnant with him.  She is sharing her story here if you could lift her up.


Please leave your requests below and let's pray for one another. 

Finishing the Race

Two of my favorite guys had really big weekends this past weekend. 

First, this boy had his first out of town trip.  We travelled to may parents house for a couple of days. He did so great (except in the car which he hates riding in with the passion of a thousand hot burning suns.) (Which is really squashing our hopes of driving 12 hours to the beach in two months).  

Saturday night my mom made burgers and the best buttermilk pie.  I've always turned up my nose at buttermilk pie because it doesn't sound too exciting but I tasted it and wow have I been missing out. 

My aunt Linda came over and she had cleaned out all of jewelry (which she is the jewelry queen) and brought my girls boxes of stuff.  They were so excited!!! She spoils them! 

This is a picture from church but the church secretary from my dad's church Jacquie and her husband Dave also joined us for dinner.  They are very special to our family.  I babysat their boys when they were just babies and now they are grown and one is married a dad himself. 

The real reason we were there was for this guy! 

My dad retired and had his last Sunday after 30 years as pastor at the same church.  They had an emotional service to honor him.  He's the only pastor many in that church have ever known so it is very bittersweet for him to step down.  My parents are leaving the church to make way for them to find a new pastor.  And they are entering a weird season of no longer being in full time ministry.  Although my dad will continue to go on mission trips and train pastors all over the world and hopefully preach occasionally.  (If your pastor needs a fill in - call him!) ha! 

My dad was saved at 29 (after telling my mom he would NOT go to church with her) and was called into the ministry in his 30's.  We went to seminary and we were poor but I was so happy! And he became a pastor at 37.  Following God's call is never easy but there is no better place to be than in the center of His will.   Thankful for parents who modeled that for me. 

Me and my babies before church on Sunday.  

Will Holden looks like he is trying to get away from me.  Or maybe it's my awkward hold. 

Grateful for these people

My girls were so excited to be at Papa's church to celebrate him.

We had a normal church service and then they had a huge catered lunch.  It was SO perfectly southern Baptist - fried chicken and Barbecue with a potluck of desserts. It was so nice! 

These two sisters are two of my oldest and dearest friends.  We have 30 years of memories and friendship and it's so easy to pick it back up when we see each other.  I was so happy they came back and I got to see them.   They are the two sweetest, kindest people I have ever known. 

And these are our parents together.  Our families have so many memories together.  Randy has been the volunteer music minister for over 30 years.  In a day when people are pretty flaky when it comes to service, I'm always in awe of the commitment he has had in serving in that way.  He's also President of Ranger Boats but he always has given his time to lead music.  I'm so grateful to know their family. 

This verse definitely makes me think of my dad and his ministry:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Tim 4:7

What does "Being Saved" mean?

When I wrote a post a few weeks ago about Harper asking Jesus in her heart, I received a lot of emails and comments asking me what exactly it meant to "be saved".

I want to preface this post by saying that first of all - I'm not a theologian or a preacher.  I'm just a girl who loves Jesus and believes with all her heart what the Bible says.  And I want to share this post not out of judgement or to say that I'm right but because as someone I know wrote recently, "I feel like I have the best kept secret in the world."  If I knew the secret to losing weight easily or how to stay young forever - I would share it with you.  And I believe with everything in me something that's so much bigger than that, so out of my love for people - I can't NOT share this.  You don't have to agree with me.  I don't have all the answers.  I just know that if what I believe is true, than I could never live with myself if I didn't shout it from the rooftops to everyone I know.

Knowing so many in the last few years who have died at a young age, I feel so strongly that if I don't do anything else with my life - the most important thing to me is that I share my love of Jesus with others.


So first of all - God is Holy.  He is perfect.  And he created us but the first people he made (Adam and Eve) chose to disobey Him and out of that became sin.  We live in a broken world.  We all are born sinners.  Our natural instinct is to not follow the ways of God.  Because God is Holy, our sin separates us from Him.  The Bible says "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).  Our sin keeps us from spending eternity in Heaven with God.

In the years before Jesus, people who believed in God would offer sacrifices of animals as an atonement for their sins.  This was the way they were "saved".  But then God sent Jesus to come and live on earth as a man and he died on the cross to be the ultimate sacrifice.  When Jesus died (and rose again), we no longer have to offer sacrifices because He did it for us.  All we have to do is just believe in Him.  Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

It's really very simple - if you understand this and believe it - that you have sin and that Jesus died for our sins so that we could live eternally with him - you just have to follow what Romans 10:9-10 says,
"if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

It's not just about praying a prayer or even trying to get "insurance" from going to Hell.  Being saved means you recognize your need for a Savior and you choose to live your life following the Bible and trusting God (even when you can't understand why things are happening or why bad things happen or have questions).  This is faith.

It's also not about "being good".  Who could measure what "being good enough" truly would be? Can you imagine what that standard would even be to a Holy God? The Bible says "our good works are like filthy rags" to God.  We could never be good enough alone.  That's why we need Jesus.   Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by GRACE we are saved, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. NOT as a result of works, so no man can boast".  

Grace is the wonderful gift God has given us.  We don't deserve His goodness but He loves us and saves us from ourselves by His grace.

Being saved is just the beginning.  The Bible says "they will know you are Christians by your fruit".  Or in other words, you can't get saved and then just to choose to continue living like someone who is lost.  None of us are perfect.  Christians mess up CONSTANTLY. But the love of God should pour out of us.  

It's important once you are saved - to be discipled by a wiser, more mature Christian and to grow in your faith by reading the Bible, praying and joining a local church.

What about the people who live in remote tribes and have never read a Bible or been told about God? That's a great question to ponder.  The Bible says "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:19-20.  I believe God can reveal Himself to them without ever hearing one sermon.  They can see and know there is a God and believe in HIm.  God knows what each of have had the knowledge of in life and had the opportunity to hear about Him and whether we accept or reject.  That's the difference.  

I've written a few posts that come after getting saved but not the actual act of asking Jesus in your heart.  Here are a few that might help:

So you found Jesus - now what?

On the Importance of Being Discipled

So you Want to Find a Church

Teaching Kids to Pray

My greatest desire is for everyone I meet to know the love God has for you.  You certainly don't have to agree or listen.  But I can't go another day without sharing what I believe.  My faith is everything to me and what kind of person would I be if I kept it to myself?

I would love to "try" and answer any questions you might have.  I don't have all the answers.  I think you reach a point where you have to decide "Am I going to trust God or am I not?"  I have a ton of questions for God when I meet Him.  There is so much I just don't get.  But if we could understand the mind of God - why would we have a need for Him?

God gives me peace and comfort that I can't explain.  He also gives me so much joy and love.  It's something that I wish for everyone to know. 

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have suffering. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

What's up

I didn't blog much last week.  Our week was full of two things - school and our annual church clothing give away.  

Harper had a GREAT first week of school.  She is loving first grade.  She was so excited that in first grade they can check out TWO library books! ha! It's the small things.  Thursday night we had a parents night and the teachers gave us a 30 minute rundown of what they will be learning this year.  We are so thrilled with Harper's teacher.  She is SUPER organized and loves communication and is very focused on reading.  So she just speaks my love languages! I think she will be a huge blessing to Harper.  

Hollis, Will Holden and I spent a lot of time at church helping get ready for the clothing give away on Saturday.  

Thursday my friend Marci asked if she could take Hollis with them to the movies.  So they went to the movies and got lunch.  Arkansas Children's Hospital just got two new helicopters and they had flown one up here for a charity event so she took the kids to see it also.  We love when we see these hospital helicopters because Harper loves to hear about how she flew in one right after she was born.

While they were having fun, Will Holden and I paid a visit to the doctor.  He seems to have reflux - just spits up GALLONS every day.  So we are trying meds and a little cereal in his bottle and I think it's helping.  He stayed in one outfit all day yesterday if that tells you anything.  Normally we have at least 12 wardrobe changes.  

Thursday night I went to a surprise painting party for my friend Sam.  One year ago, she had her baby Lily who went to be with Jesus the same day.  Her husband wanted to do something for her to celebrate Lily.  I thought that was so sweet.  Sunflowers have a special meaning to her and Lily so that is what we painted.  God is so good - she's pregnant with TWINS right now! I'm so happy for her and excited for her to have double the fun! She has a great testimony of faithfulness in the unimaginable and in the good.  

I found this fun little thing at a re-sale shop.  They didn't have this with the girls.  He's too little for the exerciser but this is perfect.  So now Will gets to sit up a little and look around at us.  He's getting so big! 

But he's also my sweet baby sucking his thumb and holding his bunny.  Isn't that the sweetest sight? 

So that's what we have been up to! It's nice getting back into routines and we are looking forward to fall! 

First day of First Grade

So somewhere along the way this sweet baby

turned into this teenager.  

Well maybe she isn't a teenager yet but I feel like she might as well be. 

She started first grade on Monday.  

It's so hard for me to believe.  I would love to say I was sad but I think she's at such a perfect age and school is so fun that I'm more happy and excited than sad. 

 She was super excited to go back and see her friends.  

If you know me, you know my disdain for cats.  (I'm sorry cat fans).  But Harper picked this backpack out and I was not going to say no.  I'm completely fine with cats on backpacks or even shirts - just not a live one in my house. 

Scott and I walked her in to her new class.  She made herself right at home and got all settled in. 

She's such a shy wallflower.  

When I picked her up after school she said "Guess what mom? EVERYONE wanted to be my friend". 

I got so tickled today that I was crying because Laurie and I were talking about school and car line and she said something about when Will Holden being in 3rd grade and I said "LAURIE - I will be FIFTY when Will Holden is in the 3rd grade.  FIFTY. "  Keep the blond and Oil of Olay coming! (FIFTY! I hope all the 25 year old moms will let me hang out with them).  

Last year I hosted a first day breakfast for the moms I knew from our school.  It was a great distraction for me and it was really fun to visit with other moms.  I decided to keep it going this year. I had around 20 moms come over right after drop off.  It was a little stressful to try and get us out the door by 7 and all dressed AND have my house ready for a brunch but it worked! I made a breakfast casserole, sausage balls, two kinds of muffins and the BEST (and easy) cinnamon bun monkey bread.  I didn't take any pictures once the moms came but we had a great time! 

And I guess I can keep hosting for another 10 years (and invite the moms who are half my age by then!) 

The years really do just sail by.  And apparently I have a thing for red bows and blue outfits on the first day! I feel an urgency to make each moment count when I look at this comparison picture and realize how quickly this went.  Sometimes between the dishes and the piles of laundry and the constant diaper changes I wonder what I'm doing with my life and then I realize I'm raising three little  people to be world changers and being a mom seems pretty important after all.