Author Archives: kerri

Signing Out For a Few Months

1 Reply

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7

by: Kerri Young

As I have alluded to in my last post, we are in the process of moving. (You can also read about our fun preparations in a blog I wrote awhile back here.) Since we are moving to the other side of the world and everything about life is going to be new and challenging for a bit, I am taking a rest from blogging on Mosaic of Moms for a few months.

The plan right now is to take April, May and June off, and return in July with lots of stories to share. We are excited to watch God’s faithfulness and provision continue to unveil before our eyes and would be grateful for your prayers as we march forward in obedience into the unknown. If you feel so inclined, here are some specific prayer requests:

1. Please pray we would find our strength and identity in El Shaddai as we walk through the changes of the next few weeks.

2. Please pray we will trust Jehovah-Jireh to provide all our needs in the next two months as we prepare to leave, Lord willing, on May 25 (including the sale of our house and the completion of the rest of our financial needs).

3. Please pray we will parent our children well through the midst of extreme life change and that our children will find perfect peace in Jehovah Shalom when things are new, scary and uncertain.

Thank you!

I will not be posting, but I will be checking email. If there is ever a way I can pray for you, friends, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Until July, I will be praying we can rest in Jehovah Raah together….

House Pic

Focusing on Who He Is Rather Than What I Am

2 Replies

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
 he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

By: Kerri Young

This is a big month, and particularly an eventful week, for my family. My husband finished his job March 1, so we are now without significant income until we depart for our new home, Lord willing, in May. I am in the process of wrapping up my coaching job and passing on the mantle to my assistant coach. We are down to our last few days in our house and preparing for a big moving sale Wednesday through Friday to—hopefully—get rid of most of our belongings. We are moving across the world and cannot take it all with us. We are also gearing up for our going away party that will take place on Saturday. And, on top of all that, we are trying our best to give our children some sense of normality in the midst of our lives getting turned upside down.

I’m going to be honest with you….

I am overwhelmed…because there is so much that needs to get done in the next two weeks before we roll out of town that I’m just not confident we’ll get it all done.

I am exhausted…because for the few short hours I am able to lie in bed at night I find myself unable to sleep because my brain is constantly thinking of all the things that need to get done.

I am sad…because we have to say goodbye to the bed my daughter sleeps in that belonged to my granny, the dishes we’ve had since we got married and the Kitchenkitchen shades I so painstakingly worked to find on ebay after they were discontinued at Pottery Barn…not to mention all my cheer peeps, our friends, and the church family we have grown to love here in Northwest Arkansas. Continue reading →

IMG_8908

Bluff Dweller’s Cavern Review

Leave a reply

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40

By: Kerri Young

IMG_8883I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for fun, family-friendly places to take our kids that might also provide an opportunity to learn or take in some of God’s magnificent creation. So, in the fall I purchased some discounted tickets on Living Social to Bluff Dweller’s Cavern in Noel, Missouri because it sounded like it might be a great homeschool field trip.

We had the opportunity to go check out Bluff Dweller’s Cavern today with some sweet friends who also homeschool. And, I am here to say that if you live anywhere near Northwest Arkansas or Southwest Missouri you should definitely go experience this spectacular cave for yourself.

All of our kids, even my extremely busy toddler who was confined to me in the moby wrap because I didn’t trust him to walk by himself and not get into trouble, ooohed and IMG_8882aaahed over the incredible formations and mineral deposits throughout the cavern.

IMG_8888

The tour, led by an extremely friendly and knowledgeable guide, took about 45 minutes and there weren’t any times during the trip through the cavern that our kids whined or complained about being bored or wanting to be done.

 

IMG_8890IMG_8885IMG_8902As a matter of fact, after leaving, my four year old repeated all afternoon that he wanted to go back to the cave tomorrow.

We got to see a few critters, like salamanders and hibernating bats (that were tiny and IMG_8892adorable and hanging in random places…sorry we couldn’t take any pictures of them with a flash, but trust me, even my 7 year old daughter thought they were cute and not scary) up close and personal.

IMG_8889At the end of the tour there is a museum and gift shop that are always free to the public and I would say the collection of rocks, fossils and antiques in there are almost worth the drive themselves.

IMG_8908It was a memorable way to spend the morning and I would say that even without the living social vouchers it would be worth the price of admission (which is $12 for adults, $6 for kids 4-11, and free for 3 and under). They do have a group discount and said they love it when homeschool groups come to visit.

March – October, Bluff Dweller’s Cavern is open daily from 9am to 5pm. November – February it’s open daily from 9am to 4pm.

Road-Map-to-CaveGo check it out and tell them Mosaic of Moms sent you!

 

 

Have I Told You Today That I Love You?

Leave a reply

By: Kerri Young

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

I’m a little short on words today. Yesterday at the university where my husband and I work a young girl was found dead in her dorm room. I won’t go into the particulars of how she died, but I will say that when her parents sent her back to school in January for the second semester they had no idea she would never return home or that they wouldn’t get to hug their sweet girl one more time.

As a coach of young people her age, it makes me want to call each of them and tell them how special they are and how much I care about them. But more than anything, as a mother of young kids still blessedly untouched by the harsh world we live in, it makes me want to hold them a little closer today.

Tomorrow is not promised, friends. I want to challenge you today, just for a few moments throughout the day, to forget about the household duties that are beckoning you. Forget about the clothes that need to be put away, the dishes in the sink, the piles of paper on the counter that need to be sorted, and even the dinner that needs to be made. All of these things can be dealt with later.

Go love on your kids.

Go give them hugs and kisses and engage in what they are doing. Sit and watch “Dinosaur Train” with them snuggled in your lap and actually talk to them about the show. Plop down on the floor with them and make believe with their dolls or build a train track. Curl up on the couch with a good book and read it out loud together. Take the time to sing and pray with them before they go down for a nap or bedtime and be sure to kiss their foreheads and whisper in their ears that you love them.

When your bigger kids get home from school, take time to really see them and interact about their day. Ask them questions and listen to their answers with undivided attention, even just for five minutes. Hug those big kids, even if they say they don’t like it. Pray with them and for them as many times during the day as they’ll let you.

Above all, just be sure your children know how much you love them…through your actions and your words. If tomorrow doesn’t come for you or your kids, may there be no question how much their mommy/momma/mom/mother loved them.

Praying the giver of all good things will fill you to overflowing with the grace, patience, and energy you need to love your kiddos the best you can today!

And would you please join me in praying for peace that surpasses all understanding for the grieving mom of this sweet girl who passed away yesterday? God knows her name.

Who Doesn’t Love Free Books?

2 Replies

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

By: Kerri Young

I love to read and I want my children to love reading. We started homeschooling our oldest last Fall in preparation for our upcoming move to the Middle East, so I am always looking for inexpensive and easy ways to get more books in front of her without having to take a trip to the local library several times a week.

My mom stumbled upon this great website where you can not only get free children’s books, but also donate books to world literacy programs while doing so! As far as I’m concerned, that’s a win-win. It’s called We Give Books and is found at www.wegivebooks.org You do have to register and give your email address to gain access to the entire library, but I promise you won’t get bombarded with spam.

Here’s a blurb from the website that explains how it works:

Have you heard about the latest We Give Books cause? This winter, We Give Books is supporting world literacy and encouraging readers to get into the spirit of giving. Every time you read a children’s book online at wegivebooks.org, you can donate a book on behalf of your friends and family, for free!

At We Give Books, each time a reader enjoys free children’s books online, they donate a hardcover or paperback book to a child in need through their great campaign partners. From now through the end of January 2013, you can help support world literacy initiatives around the globe with partners Room to Read, Books for Asia, the Harlem Children’s Zone, and more! These amazing nonprofit organizations work to build libraries, fund schools, provide education to low-income children, and share books with those in need.

We Give Books is a fantastic resource for parents, teachers, and anyone who loves to read children’s books. They have a free online library of over 150 outstanding children’s books available at www.wegivebooks.org, including some of our favorites, like the Llama Llama and Skippyjon Jones books, and DK science books. The best part is, your reading will directly impact the great work of non-profit organizations around the world!

So, head over to www.wegivebooks.org to find out more about this wonderful initiative, and start reading and giving!