Mommysmart Turns "1"

Hello Friends,



This month the mommysmart blog is "1". I posted my first entry on September 15, 2006. I had been blogging for almost a year on my family blog when I decided that creating a personal writing place might serve as good therapy for me. I have always found that writing frees my mind for more important stuff. Mommysmart blog has been a tremendous blessing to me. I have made great spiritual friends, found strength through your encouragement, and grown closer to God because of the ability to express my thoughts.



My first "smart family" post was on October 10, 2005. I began blogging from some encouragement from my friend, Stacy. She had been using her blog as a photo album for friends and family and helped me set mine up. So if you are ever bored and want to see WAY TOO MANY family photos of someone else's family feel free to check the family blog.



In the spirit of reflection I have been reading over old posts and laughing at some of the things that I posted. I sometimes copied and pasted things that touched my heart, often wrote about personal thoughts and feelings, and sometimes just wasted good internet space.



For the most part I don't believe that there is any "new" information out there, just new discoveries of the same things. Rocky always says, "no need to reinnvent the wheel". So whichever blogs you are reading, I hope that they present to you a NEW DISCOVERY. And maybe ever once in awile, you will find something here that will lighten your load or brighten your day.



In honor of the one year birthday, I want to offer you, the mommysmart reader, a daily blessing each day of September courtesy of Max Lucado. Here is what he says about offering blessings.....

31 Days of Blessings
From Max Lucado

The Brazilians taught me the beauty of a blessing. Here is a scene repeated in Brazil thousands of times daily.

It’s early morning. Time for young Marcos to leave for school. As he gathers his books and
heads for the door, he pauses by his father’s chair. He searches his father’s face. Bencao, Pai?

Marcos asks. (Blessing, Father?)

The father raises his hand. Deus te abençoe, meufliho, he assures. (God bless you, my son.)
Marcos smiles and hurries out the door.

Father and child part for the day, a blessing requested, a blessing willingly given. The son seeks his father’s favor as he begins his day.

We should do the same. Like the child longing for the father’s favor, each of us needs a daily reminder of our heavenly Father’s love.

When I returned to the United States from Brazil, 1 began the practice of pronouncing a
blessing on our church at the end of each service. It was my way of praying for them in their presence. I’d like to do the same for you. May each day’s blessing encourage you as you seek your Father’s face.

Blessing for Saturday September 1

A Blessing of Hope

May the God of peace, the eternal One and only God, grant you an awareness of his
immediate return. May you be patient, may you be eager, but most of all may you be found
ready when he calls.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though do not see him now, you
believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
—1 Peter 1:8, NIV

Blessings,

Monica