A Chicken Noodle Christmas Eve

Soooo…

Last year we made a birthday cake for Jesus we had the candles and decorative icing and all, Santa got his homemade cookies, and Cort cooked an amazing Christmas Eve dinner,  and a Christmas breakfast that even Cracker Barrell could not compete with.  

 I felt all our ducks were in a nice row last year. Christmas gifts were all purchased and wrapped with neatly folded corners and perfectly coordinated and tied ribbons several weeks before Christmas Eve rolled around because our family was working to help at my uncle and aunt’s jewelry store.

However, this year things went downhill slightly, with positive strep test, vomit, sickness, and the SO LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING we have ran into several bumps along the way.

Cort and I rotated to help each other so neither one of us gets worn out, yet we still build memories with the kids. Cort took the morning shift and managed to bake sausage balls and Christmas candy with the girls. I pulled the evening shift and made the birthday cake for Jesus, and set his place at our table; however I burnt my wrist cooking the pumpkin pie that served as our birthday cake for Jesus and our delicious Christmas Eve dinner pretty much just consisted of Chili. I know how pathetic…I was a little embarrassed when we said the prayer and invited Jesus to eat at our table. The King of Kings hanging out with us eating a bowl of Chili, and then Chaise looks at me across the table and says, “Jesus can’t even eat with us because you did not put food on his plates.”  

Finally, it hit me. Jesus does not care that I am representing with Nabisco Cookies for Santa this year, or that the presents are wrapped but not as neatly as I would have hoped for. Because we ran out wrapping paper, and about 4 gifts are missing the bottom half of their wrapping paper.  

I normally pride myself on knowing we have everything organized and ready to go, but I do know this despite the fact that Cort, the girls and I are feeling a little under the weather and it has not been one of the most entertaining Christmas Eves ever. We still purposed to build memories with our girls and help them focus on who the true “big guy” is this Christmas Eve.  

With the blowing of the noses and listening to our girls upstairs plotting how they can “trap” Santa, at this rate I am pretty sure we are going to have a late night early morning not what are achy bodies exactly need, but the important thing is when we wake up at the crack of dawn before the rooster crows. We are waking up knowing even though our stockings are filled with Chicken noodle, Kleenex, and medicine we are still very blessed, and will REJOICE THAT OUR SAVIOR IS BORN!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Merry Christmas for our Home to yours!

Christmas Challenge

 “Momma, do you know what Christmas is really about?  Do you know that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday!??!!  I am sure glad we know what Christmas is about, Momma. Because some peoples think that Christmas is just about getting gifts and about Santa, but we Bethmanns know it’s about JESUS!”  This was the precious conversation that Kailee Grace and I shared on the way together to church this morning.  Talk about having Unspeakable Joy in knowing your child is getting it!

As parents we long to give our children gifts and shower them with things they want. Normally, by this time we have presents overflowing under our tree for our girls, but this year has been a little different for the Bethmann household.  We have been given the “opportunity” to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and really focus our girl’s eyes on the true meaning behind the celebration of Christmas. 

After hearing Breathe of Heaven on the drive into work 2 weeks ago, and then again during the offertory my mind has not be able to escape some of my thoughts below.  I have been thinking a lot about Mary.  Not that I carried the Messiah, but I understand the emotions of the fear,  the rejection, and shame of having a child as a teenager. I want you to take a journey with me.  Girls, I want us to put ourselves in Mary’s shoes.

 So I will set the stage for a modern Mary staring YOU as Mary!

Ring! Ring! The bell for sixth period Chemistry Class has just rung.   Hi Mr. Smith sorry I am late! I had some last minute cheerleading duties I had to take care of before the big tournament this weekend. No problem! Grab your book; here is the ditto we are working on right now.  

****15 minutes pass*************

THAT feeling comes over you again.  Quickly you rush to the front of the room.

Excuse me Mr. Smith, I know I was late, but do you mind to give me a hall pass I am feeling a little sick to my stomach.  Truthful Sir … I have been feeling kind of under the weather for about two weeks now. I think I might have that stomach virus that has been going around, and if you don’t get me a hall pass I am going to have to use your trash can as a toilet.  

 Just then a voice announces to the class “Well, the way you have been eating lately would make us all think you are eating for two,” Ashley said in her cut you to the core tone.  

 As the tears begin to fill your eyes and your lips begins to trembling from the embarrassment of the teasing comments. Your stomach reminds you that you have one mission to accomplish-- The mad dash for the bathroom.

Hanging your head over the toilet you begin to shake with the reality of everything coming to a head. Finally the feeling passes and you relax into the floor worn out from your body reacting so violently to your lunch you had eaten.  As you set on the floor and wrap your arms around your legs that you pull tight to your chest you.

 You begin to whisper a tearful prayer. Lord, Lord WHY ME? How could this be happening to me? I can’t be pregnant!   What will my family say? Oh the ridicule I will come under.   But the soft sweet voice of the Lord brushes over you as if He is holding you tight in his arms and stroking your hair. Questions race through your mind why me? Shouldn’t a wiser old more experience woman take my place?

 At that moment, with all the unsureness you are facing in life and all the doubt that is trying to overwhelm you. You decided to offer all of yourself and resolve yourself to being the servant of the Lord knowing that God will help you to be strong.  You come to a point that you have never been surer of any decision to keep the baby. You know without a shadow of doubt you will be having a son and His name shall be called JESUS the Prince of Peace.

For nine months you walk a journey of feeling as if there are many moonless lonely nights. You are cold and weary from the way people have treated and looked at you as though you are a dirty dog.  Unable to express that which is weighing on your mind every minute of the day. You search for the inner peace of knowing the babe inside you was hand selected by God the Father and He found favor on you to carry His Son.  Not sure why you found the favor. You are just an average girl with average hard working parents.

While you patiently stare at the ceiling of your room your body is changing second by second minute by minute into a woman and no longer is able to embrace your childhood, frighten by the load you know you will bear. You begin to spend those lonely sleepless nights silently praying. “Father, The world around me is as cold as a stone their harsh words cut like knives.  Please help me walk on this path I must face alone.  Oh, God be with me now and do not let me be put to shame!”

Then that moment comes the most glorious moments of all moments.  When heaven is open up and the Messiah is born! All your fears come to an end and the Peace that passes all understanding comes over you as you hold that babe in your hand gentle rocking the man who was sent to save you and the world from our sins.

While there are only 5 days left until we celebrate the birth of our Savior. I am in awe of how God used the most unlikely person to bring the Savior into this world. I would like to suggest to both you and myself that God is trying to use us all in ways that might cause us to ask the questions of … Why me? Surely you could find someone wiser and more fitting for this role you have asked of me.

 Just maybe If we can get past the hustle and bustle of the purchasing the gifts for our kids we might just have some moments like Mary where we come to the place of saying PLEASE HELP ME walk on this path. Then, maybe this Christmas Season God could birth in each one of us something he has been trying to for a while. Maybe he wants to simply birth confidence in whom we are in Christ, or wants you to lead a small group, or even just setting down as a family and having a devotion at dinner.

 Whatever it is you must know YOU ARE HIGHLY FAVORED, and nothing we face is alone because of the brave actions of one teenage girl saying… Have your way in me Lord!  

So my two cents for the day:

I leave you with this Christmas Challenge Are you willing to say… HAVE YOUR WAY IN ME LORD?

Merry Christmas Girls! I love you y’all!

Tiffany 

Ready. Set. Wait!

 “PLEASE, Momma we just want to open just one gift!”  Every Christmas my little sister Jamie and I begged and pleaded with our parents to open our gifts that we no longer could stand to see looking so beautiful under the tree.  It was like they were singing some brainwashing melody open me you have to open me and only Jamie and I could hear their lullaby.

 Normally, we were able to talk mom into letting us open at least one gift earlier. However, one year our desperate pleas only found us at a dead end street named NO Girls.  So Jamie and I thought it was time to take matters into our own hands.  We had plotted for several days, trying to guess, and shake each package hoping that we would figure out what was under that wrapping paper. Finally, a light bulb in my 14 year old mind went off. I was convinced that I had figured out the best way for us to no longer have to “WAIT” to see what was under the tree.  Now, I just needed Jamie to believe me for my plan would work.

 Jamie and I spent the next several hours carefully un wrapping each present paying extra attention to not tear any paper. I had made sure to make it clear to Jay that we must go slow because one torn package would give us away to Mom and Dad.  As Jamie stood watching the front door for any signs of Mom and Dad I made sure we got everything wrapped and back in place just as we found it before they pulled into the driveway.  Trust me that took some ninja unwrapping skills.

Jamie and I kept that secret until we were both in our late 20s and one Christmas Eve we confessed the story to our parents.

Now that my girls are older I have heard at least 10 times, “Momma, please can we open just one gift.”

Funny thing is I truly now looking back on it feel  like if I would have just had some patients and waited that Christmas would have been one of the most amazing surprising years. My parents had gone out of their way to make it so special for Jamie and me.

I am not that 14 year old girl begging and pleading to open the presences under the tree, but I have found myself in other situations that my family is facing now. Begging come on God! Why do we have to WAIT! Just please make this happen for us.  I have prayed Jeremiah 29:11 until I feel I am blue in the face.

King David is a man who understood waiting on a very deep level. When David was not talking directly to God in his psalms, he was usually talking to himself- trying to remind himself of who his God  was and what he would do. By speaking the affirmations of his faith so that his heart and soul would hold to that truth, and look past his circumstances.   I feel like David is a prime example for when we feel like our circumstances are bleak, or when God is answering our prayers with “wait”. We can follow David’s example in Psalms.  Just as David knew of God’s faithfulness and that God will always bring thing in God’s perfect timing and according to His plan. We can rest in knowing that same God is in control of our circumstances as well. 

So here is my Two Cents Worth  take it or leave it. 


I do not know what you are facing in life right now, but for me I have faced the feelings of uncertainty from moving states, and the impatient feelings from everything not falling into place as I had expected.  Trust me when I say I am “PREACHING TO THE CHOIR” but the only thing I can encourage us to do is.  We must remember what God has done for us in the past, and how he has brought us through difficult circumstances in the past.  When we place our hope in God, we will never be disappointed.

Raising Fashion Experts….

Do I look Ok?  This is the questions we ladies having being asking for decades.  Too often we get caught up on our outside beauty,and the latest trends. BUT there is a way that we can lead by example and teach our daughters to become true FASHION EXPERTS by always remembering to wear their secret accessories.   

Raising three daughters I get my fair share of fashion questions daily.  Don’t get me wrong I love finding a good hairspray or buying new lipstick and pretty sure with our color selection my girls and I could open up our own nail salon.  I have always enjoyed painting my girls toes and playing dress up with them.

When Rielly turned 3 years old, she looked up at me with her deep blue eyes and said, “Mommy, I want to be as pretty as you. Will you please put some makeup on me?”  So of course we played dress-up, but that day I gave her the best fashion advice and makeover I felt a Momma could give their daughter.   I told  Rielly, “Of course you can be as pretty as Momma, but before Momma puts on my lipstick, or I straighten my hair. I put on my “SECRET Accessories” better known as the ARMOR of GOD.   I will try and break down each piece the way I see it to give you a better understanding on why I feel the Armor is any lady’s greatest accessory, but the best part is it is FREE.

 Normally, when you think about the Armor of the Lord you think about putting on Battle Gear. The way I was able to remember to put it on in the morning was to remember it was my special accessory package.  I mean what girl does not love accessories?

·         Belt of Truth:  In my mind it is a fancy gold belt with some bling bling . When I ask God to put it on my family I am asking him to help us know that He is the way, the Truth and Life, and we need HIM in  every situation to help remind us that HIS TRUTH set us free from anything that would try to enslave us today.

·         Breastplate of Righteousness:   Imaging putting on the most elegant eye stopping vest adorned with turquoise beads,  and other adornments  that would make any top look complete, that head turning look we all long for yet this time for all the right reasons.  When I ask God to equip my family with the Breastplate of Righteousness I am asking that HE use each one of us, and help us to chose to do the right things.

·         Shoes of Peace:   I do not know about you ladies, but I am a shoe queen. I am a firm believer that the shoes can make or break any outfit. Basically, I love shoes, but these shoes are like no other pair I own, I have never seen these shoes in any store. I in vision my shoes of peace being the best pair of high heels, but having the comfort of tennis shoes, and shabby chic look of  a pair of TOMS. These shoes allow me and my family to know that we can walk in the peace knowing that we do not have to worry or be anxious for anything because GOD has it covered for us.  Once you place your shoes of peace on you have an inner peace and readiness to tackle your day.

·         Shield of Faith:  Well every good outfit has to have a purse and that is what I see my Shield of Faith being.  I am not talking about the Vera Bradley wristlets bags I am talking about those oversize put your kitchen sink in kind of bags.  We have to live by faith daily believing in things that we do not see.  Our faith comes from past experiences, the verses and stories we have learned and from other believers encouraging us. 

·         Helmet of Salvation:  I enjoy wearing a cute fashionable hat.  Our helmet of Salvation reminds us daily that Jesus is why we are forgiven and free, and no matter what comes against my family or yours  we can rely on and believe that Jesus provides us Eternity with him, and no one or thing can take that away from us.

·         Sword of the Spirit:  We have to hide God’s word in our hearts so we can stand on the truth with lives craziness comes our way! I always think of the Sword of the Spirit as a ring. The best way to help you understand why I think a ring is because of what my wedding ring represents to me.  My wedding ring is a visual reminder to me of the vow my husband made to me. He promised to guide, comfort, protect and love me. God’s word does the same thing for me. So today when life gives you lemons turn it into lemonade and remember your “Special Ring”. 

Some of my favorite times in the morning are hearing my girls in shower praying. I love hearing Kailee Grace and Chaise asking God to put our families “Armor On”.  Their prayers normally start off something like this… Jesus put the shield of faith, the breast of righteousness, Sword of the spirit, belt of truth and shoes of peace, and she adds a piece the gloves of Praise on Mommy, Daddy, Rielly and Us. That part of my morning routine never gets old!  

My Two Cent’s for you today is this: Let’s be true Fashion Experts and put on the Accessories that matter the most. THE ARMOR OF THE LORD, and by doing that we will raise fashion experts! 

Getting the Funk and Yuck Out!!!

Hello Chicks!

I can vividly recall being in Sunday School hearing Mrs. DeeDee Tripp teach us about the Israelites who made a week journey into a  40 year  journey. I remember thinking as a young kid these Israelites sure are idiots. How could they be sooooo stupid and complain when all their needs were being met. Yet, here I find myself on a journey similar to that of the Israelites.  Here I am waiting, complaining choosing not to be content and enjoy the journey to my so called “PROMISE LAND” while most of my needs are being met.    

 I do not know about you Ladies, but if I do not change and put off that way of thinking I feel I will never get out of the desert.  The truth is God is and has faithfully been feeding me and providing for me, given me health children, and a loving husband. Yet, I complain about life, the girls having attitudes, my marriage is not what I think it should "look like", and even complained about the blessings of a new job and a home He provided.  

For anyone of you girls who have heard me complain. Will you please forgive me? I have not been a good steward of my blessings.  I have not been praising God. I have broken the heart of God by complaining. Worst of all, I have camped out and began to decorate my tent in the desert instead of allowing God to teach me to Trust Him and to Live CONTENT in the season I am in.

I am asking you chicks to keep me countable with being content in the season God has brought me too. I am choosing to enjoy the journey and be content with the house I am in, try and enjoy  my marriage and my children and the challenges I face with each girl, fill blessed that I get to wear multiple hats of employee, Momma, and wife.

 I am making a vow before you ladies tonight that I DO SOLEMNLY RESOLVE to embrace my current season of life and will MAXIMIZE my time in it. I will RESIST the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT. 

I hate resolutions because I am not one who normally makes them because I am one who does not like disappointing people, or failing in life. I am choosing to make this resolve knowing that I am not perfect. I will mess up. However, I am willing to fail knowing that in the end I will wind the war even if I lose some battles in the process.  I want to encourage you ladies to really take a deep look and pray and seek God. Ask him if you need to take this type of resolve in your life as well as we face a new year.

Hebrews 13:5 

Love you girls!

Tiffany 

A Cinderella Fairy Tale Day Goes Wrong

I was ready to hit the ground running and have my own Cinderella fairytale type of day. I had spent the night before preparing lunches for the girls, helping them pick out their outfits a.k.a Princess gowns, and finishing  the Royal pain in the butt homework. However, all my planning and preparation was thrown out the window, and all hell broke loose when the alarm went off this morning at 5:45 a.m.  

Rielly woke up throwing up, the master bedroom sink had been dripping all night and the floor of the bathroom was covered in water, and my sock covered feet announced to me that the carpet was also wet.

In all the Craziness of this morning I was reminded that JESUS is carefully cleaning out of our hearts, step by step, He is asking us to have His mindset. We need to understand that we are living for so much more than what this world has to offer each one us girls. He reminded me that while I am in a season of my life that I would classify more as a nightmare instead of a fairytale. That I cannot allow for this season of my life or any moment on we have on the face of this world bog us down girls!

I was reminded that all my worrying was for nothing and that I should not be anxious about any of my circumstances or issues my family is facing.  Totally, Easier said than done!  I can say this with confidence because of what God has done in my life in the past. Not only has God promised to provide, he also promises to give us PEACE in all our situation or chaotic day. 

  

So my Two Cent’s Worth Today:

Today try to clear your life of one distraction by adding a prayer time during your most hectic and chaotic part of the day! Even if it is as simple as JESUS I NEED HELP! When we face days as this our prayer time can be, “GOD, I NEED YOU! I am Sooo Weak!”  No matter what just send that S.O.S to God!!  You do not have to go all Beth Moore on me, just a moment to stop and ask God for peace.

He just wants His Chicks!

Ready or Not Here "IT" Comes!!

To All My Fellow Chicks,

I am so excited to share with you girls that I am embarking on a new journey. For those of you who have spent any time with me.  You are well aware if I have an idea, I  dive in head first and go for it, and I normally figure any bumps I hit along the way will work themselves out.

I have a confession that we must keep between us chicks.  I have no doubt if I was a celebrity the front page of the  National Enquirer's Headline would read… A Miracle has occurred! Tiffany Bethmann “STOPPED and THOUGHT” read more on page 12.

NO really! I took my husbands advice that he has been preaching to me since I have known him.  I actually did it I stopped, thought, and prayed about starting a blog and what my two cents would be worth. I am normally not shy to give my two cent’s on anything I feel passion about. I have never struggled with being transparent, and asking God to use whatever I am going through to reach others.

So that is what this chick is going to do.  I have asked God to help me to share my two cents worth. I will talk about my experiences from being a working Momma trying to balance a family and a career. My Accomplishments and Failures of raising my  three little chick, and trying to be a wife that can bring her husband joy not pain. But most importantly, I want to share how I am being blessed and molded into being a Proverbs 31 Chick who is being blessed more than I deserve, and how in every phase of our crazy almost comical lives God is apart and wants us to enjoy the journey.