July 03, 2020

All The Things

July 03, 2020/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

Wrapping up another week and heading into a holiday weekend. Here are a couple of things I am loving from this past week.

Number One - Putting on an outfit other than my normal momiform and walking across the backyard to celebrate our sweet neighbor’s birthday and sing karaoke.

Number Two - Watching Jane Taylor obsess over this Frozen book. I love watching her just study each page and ask all the questions. She recently got to watch Frozen for the first time and is hooked! I mean we all are. I love finding a Little Golden Book for any movie or show that she enjoys. She was the same with the Cinderella book after watching Cinderella for the first time.

Number Three- This recipe from The Defined Dish. I’ve been trying to cook from her website at least once or twice a week. I love the healthy spin on some favorites and getting the opportunity to try new ingredients.

Number Four - Getting my own lunchbox! Jane Taylor has used this lunchbox for the past year and it has been awesome. Most days I go ahead and pack it in the morning just in case we decide to venture off for a picnic or go to the pool. Some days she eats right out of it at the kitchen counter. Tired of packing my own lunch in random containers, I finally broke down and got one for myself too and I love it.

Number Five - This devotional. I’ve been using this book daily since the start of 2020. But this week there were several devotions about how God is in control. Devotions I always need to hear but was really searching for this week. I shared the verse from Psalm 135:7 yesterday on stories “He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lighting for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.” For some reason whenever I am reminded that God is in control of the weather, I feel more at peace about how He is in control of my life. This week that need to be in control myself felt a little heavier than normal so the reminder that HE is was much needed.

Hope y’all have a safe & socially distanced holiday weekend. Happy 4th!

June 22, 2020

Someone Needed the Rain

June 22, 2020/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

The other day we were outside with our neighbors when rain started to fall out of no where. The sun was shining, not a dark cloud that we could see, but still a rain shower appeared. It started it out small and we all expected it not to last long. But of course, the rain only came harder, even as the sun kept shining.

The moms kept on talking, trying to hold out as long as possible before surrendering to the rain and going inside. The kids ran from under the playset into the garage and back to the playset screaming at the top of their lungs attempting to stay dry.

At one point Jane Taylor looked at me and said “Hey Mom! Can you just turn off the rain?”

To which I replied, “No girl. Only God can do that.”

I don’t typically wake up hoping for rain. But I am sure there are people out there who do. I heard on a podcast once “Somewhere there is a bride praying for sunshine and a farmer praying for rain.” Because it is true, God sent the rain because someone needed it. Someone’s plants need the rain to grow, a kid wants a reason to wear their new rainboots, a teacher desperately needed an indoor recess to get caught up on some grading, or someone just needs a reason to rest a little more.

It is odd to think that someone would want a rainstorm over sunshine. In life it would be grand if every day, every situation, was presented with sunshine. But that’s not how life works. We have days filled with sunshine so plentiful it almost doesn’t feel real. And we have days filled with a downpour of rain that is so hard you can’t believe it’s real.

But there is joy in the rain. Sometimes you see it in the middle of the storm. Sometimes you can’t find it until the rainbow appears after it’s over. But it is there.

So the next time you wake up and are greeted with a rain shower instead of sunshine just remember, someone out there needed the rain.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” - Psalm 16:11

You know what else someone needs…

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July 31, 2018

Holding You

July 31, 2018/ Taylor Ann Dietrich

A couple nights ago I was holding Jane Taylor late into the night rocking her to sleep. For various reasons I kept having to move from one room to the other, keeping her asleep, as Adam set up her bed. I was tired, but at all didn’t mind holding my sweet girl on my chest. Honestly, I could sleep that way every night.

As I moved from room to room, holding her close and keeping her safe, I got this overwhelming thought about my fellow mothers in the world. Mothers that I have never met and will never fully understand what they have been through.

Becoming a mother has given me this strong desire to protect all around us. Protect her, Adam, our home. Thankfully, I live in a town where I am not constantly running in fear. I can speak of my love for the Lord. I can wear whatever I want. I can go wherever I please. I can do whatever I need to do for the best for my child.

But there are mothers in this world, in cities and countries I honestly can’t pronounce, who move from room to room, house to house, city to city, holding their children to their chest. Keeping them safe. Doing what is best for them. They are moving out of fear for their lives. A fear I can’t begin to imagine. Those mothers weighed heavy on my heart as I held my girl that night.

The way mothers hold their children close is, to me, the physical representation of how God holds us throughout each day and night. He covers us with His arms, moving us from room to room, house to house, city to city, in efforts to guide us to a safe destination. One that can only be found by bringing Him into our hearts.

Today I pray for the mommas out there who are doing all that they can for their children. I pray they know that God is there to guide the steps. I pray that He can help carry the fear, in whatever form it comes, and turn it into trust in His plan. And I pray for all of you to know that you are being held, so closely, each and every day by our Savoir.