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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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March 11, 2012

Praying for your Kids Series…Part 2

 
MP900438625 (2)-1

We are so thrilled to be welcoming a special guest today for the second installment of our 
Praying for Your Kids Series!
Kelli is our wonderful friend from the blog

More Bang for Your Bucks

Let’s welcome Kelli now as she shares how prayer has impacted her family in a very real way:
When the words “praying for our kids” are mentioned, so many things come to my mind. Who will they marry? Will they make good choices? Will he or she become a Christian?
I learned about praying earnestly and fervently for my children the day after my husband and I became parents. Our son Landon was born with a liver issue, one that we hoped would be ironed out in a few days. The doctors were testing (and testing, and testing) to see if he had a disease called “biliary atresia,” and kept telling us that would be “the worst-case scenario.”




In those early days as we struggled to make sense of everything while staying beside our son in the hospital, Ben and I spent hours upon hours praying for him. After his release from his first stay in the hospital, we took him to our church and had the elders pray over him in James 5 fashion. Churches all over the state were praying for him. I claimed the verse, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) 
Praying that he wouldn’t have this disease. Praying for God to heal him. Praying we could go on about life-as-usual.
And God said, “No.”
Ouch. Nothing like a prayer about the very child I carried in my womb, being answered very definitively in the exact opposite way that I wanted. 
Our son did indeed have this horrible disease, one will that will almost surely end in liver transplant. We would spend many more days in the hospital. We 
At first, and even sometimes now, there was lots of questioning. Where are you God? Why is our child sick? Why aren’t you doing what we want???
God led (and continues to lead) me to this verse when Landon was about a year old:
“For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” Lamentations 3:33. 
This verse has helped me so much. Even though I knew it, it helped so much to see it in Scripture. God didn’t want to see my baby sick and undergoing surgery at 7 weeks old any more than I did. But we live in a fallen, sinful world. Tragic things are going to happen. And for purposes that we don’t always understand, God sometimes allows them to happen.
So, even though our prayer was not answered the way we would have wanted, great things have come out of it. We have been able to minister to other families  going through the same type of trial. We moved to the city where Landon was treated to plant a church. And perhaps, most importantly, I have learned to not take my children for granted.

 

 
 It is truly amazing to see how God can use those difficult circumstances in our lives to transform and renew us and then use us to bless others. You have certainly blessed us today by sharing this with us Kelli!

Now, let’s take a look at this week’s
Biblical Virtues to be praying for your kids:


Sunday– Mercy: “May my children always be merciful, just as their father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
Monday– Respect (for self, others, authority): “Father, grant that my children show proper respect to everyone as your Word commands.” (1 Peter 2:17)
Tuesday– Biblical self-esteem: “Help my children to develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:10)
Wednesday-Faithfulness: “Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.” (Proverbs 3:3)
Thursday– Courage: “May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.” (Dt. 31:6)
Friday– Purity: “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.” (Ps. 51:10)
Saturday– Kindness: “Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
 (1 Thess. 5:15)

Thank you so much to Kelli from Eat, Pray, Read, Love for the wonderful words she shared with us this week and thanks to all of you for joining us for another Simply Sunday at the Fence,

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14 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Praying for your Kids, Simply Sundays

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Comments

  1. NanaDiana says

    March 11, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    What a touching story. And, even though, God did not answer the prayer as expected I believe He is working in another way by making them a tool to help others dealing with like issues. Great feature here today-xo Diana

    Reply
    • kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

      March 12, 2012 at 3:53 AM

      Thank you for your sweet words. We pray constantly to be used of him!

      Reply
  2. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    March 11, 2012 at 3:26 PM

    I love this series. God Bless Kelli and all of her family for all they do. I know they are an inspiration and comfort to so many. Beautiful and touching story. Hugs, marty

    Reply
    • kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

      March 12, 2012 at 1:48 AM

      Thank you Marty. Your words are so sweet.

      Reply
  3. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    March 11, 2012 at 6:15 PM

    For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. –Jeremiah 29:11 Thank you to Kelli for sharing her family’s story. Even through their struggles and uncertainties, I am thankful they are claiming Hope. This is a wonderful series, ladies.

    Reply
    • kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

      March 12, 2012 at 3:55 AM

      Susan, thank you for reminding me of that Scripture. God IS faithful to us!

      Reply
  4. chateau chic says

    March 11, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    I appreciate Kelli’s testimony about fervent prayer and God answering No. So often testimonials are about God’s answers to prayers the way we want them answered. Kelli’s testimony is a good reminder to me that God’s ways are perfect and higher than ours. His purposes are always good even when we may not see or understand it at the time.
    This is a wonderful series!
    Mary Alice

    Reply
    • kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

      March 12, 2012 at 3:56 AM

      Thanks so much Mary Alice. You are so right about God’s ways being perfect- even when we so don’t understand at the time. Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    March 11, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    I’ll begin praying these virtues for our first Granddaughter and our 2nd Grandchild still in my daughter’s womb.
    By God’s sweet grace I began to pray for Christian spouses for our 3 kids when the youngest was 2. God has granted that prayer! Thank You, Jesus!

    Reply
  6. Nikki Weatherford says

    March 12, 2012 at 1:57 AM

    What an awesome testimony, Kelli. It was much needed for me tonight. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

      March 12, 2012 at 3:57 AM

      Thanks Nikki! 🙂 Loved your post today as well.

      Reply
  7. Marsha says

    March 12, 2012 at 4:25 AM

    I need to go back and start your series from the beginning. I’m a praying parent, too. A couple of weeks ago, I went up to the soccer field next to my daughter’s high school and walked the track and prayed for her while she was taking her chemistry test. I had told her I was going to do this so I could be close to her while she was taking that test…..as you would guess, chemistry is not her best subject. Even if she hadn’t passed (but she did 🙂 ), I felt like I was doing the right thing with my Prayer Walk.

    Reply
  8. Kristin says

    March 12, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    There’s a Garth Brooks song, called “Unanswered Prayers” and it has always bothered me, because indeed, God DOES answer prayers, it’s just not always the answer you want. Sometimes God says no.

    It sounds like God said no to your prayer, because he was saying YES to something else for your life. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.

    Reply
  9. Linda Young says

    March 13, 2012 at 12:14 PM

    Kelli, That’s a beautiful story of faith. You are such a good Mommy to your children and such an encouragement to others!, and I love your Biblical Virtues, which we really need to cling to and teach to our children and grandchildren, in a world that seems to forget Godly ways and principles all too often. God bless you!

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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