Select Page
Walking Through the Fire

Walking Through the Fire

by | Mar 5, 2024 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

March has arrived!

As spring prepares to make her full debut, here in SW Colorado we are starting to see little signs that she is almost ready.

Spring is an exciting time on the farm. New life in the form of baby animals of all sorts start to make an appearance. The Red Wing blackbirds are back, busily building their nests in last year’s cattails. Their happy song is always the first sign that spring is on its way.

Exciting and Busy

Along with being exciting, spring is also an extremely busy time here on our little farm. There are animals that still need to be fed hay, calves to tag, ditches to prepare for irrigation water, and the never ending fences to repair.

Another spring time task is burning the dead grass and weeds in the ditches and along the fence lines. Recently, my family and I were repairing fence and we came to a place where the ditch runs under the fence. Because of the high concentration of water there the grass and cattails grow tall and strong in the summer. The plants die in the fall and as autumn turns to winter they bend under the weight of snow and ice. This creates a huge burden on the fence, pushing the wire down and making an easy place for mischievous cows to escape the pasture.

We decided we would have to burn the dead plants off the fence before we could even attempt to fix the mess it was in.  As I watched the flames hungrily gobble up their prey, I watched in wonder as the wires from our fence started to reappear and stand up higher as their heavy burden was removed.

 

The Gospel Picture

Through this picture, I was reminded of the beauty of the gospel. Much like that fence, we are weighted down with heavy burdens of sin and worry, guilt and dread.

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”   Hebrews 12:1b-2

Thankfully, we have a saviour who has already made a way for us to be free from that weight!  Many times we choose to pick that weight back up and try to carry it ourselves.

Like the barbed wire on the fence, we bend and will eventually break under that extreme weight.

The Good News?

We do not have to stay that way! I John 1:9 tells us he is faithful to forgive us when we admit that we are wrong. He will take that weight of worry and guilt. He will lead you through the fire and thoroughly purge the dross from your life. He is waiting for you! His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Come and rest in him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you.”   Matthew 7:7

After the flames had finished their work, small specks of vibrant green poked through the blackened ground and ashy rubble.  Once the flames had removed the dead, new life that had already been growing was revealed!  What an exciting picture of how God’s word starts as a tiny seed planted in our hearts and grows from the ashes.  

Our Heavenly Father loves us as his children and, therefore, allows us to go through fiery trials to take the bad away and to open our eyes to the new life he has made possible for us.

“Help us, oh God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.”         Psalm 79:9

Life Lessons

These types of beautiful life lessons are wonderful opportunities to share the gospel with children in a very tangible way.  They can see with their own eyes the mess that we started with.  They can hear the crackling of the fire as it grows.  They can feel with their bodies the intensity of the flames.  They can smell and taste the smoke and ashes as the mess is burned up, and then they see how the fire, though challenging for the fence and plants, removed the weight and revealed the life underneath.

I hope my experience encourages you to take the time to look for the many opportunities God puts in your life to share his love and truths with your children.

Stay strong in the faith, and be blessed, mommas!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  Psalm 27:1

Download Free Printables

In honor of spring, here are some of my favorite things! Enjoy these cute baby farm animal FREE printables (be sure to look through all five pages) and an MC original poem.

Baby Farm Animal printables

Baby Farm Animal printables (8)

Baby Farm Animal printables (16)

Baby Farm Animal printables (15)

Baby Farm Animal printables (7)

Baby Farm Animal printables (14)

Baby Farm Animal printables (12)

Baby Farm Animal printables (11)

Baby Farm Animal printables (10)

Baby Farm Animal printables (9)

Baby Farm Animal printables (17)

Baby Farm Animal printables (6)

Baby Farm Animal printables (5)

Baby Farm Animal printables (4)

Baby Farm Animal printables (18)

Baby Farm Animal printables (3)

Baby Farm Animal printables (2)

Baby Farm Animal printables (1)

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family

Five Simple Ways to Help You Feel Beautiful Every Day

Five Simple Ways to Help You Feel Beautiful Every Day

by | Feb 20, 2024 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

Do you ever feel just blah about yourself?

Feel a little fat or like your hair is too flat? Or frizzy? Your teeth too yellow? Your eyes tired? Skin dull? 

 

I have never met a woman who hasn’t experienced this type of slump. I seem to go through this a few times per year myself, usually in the winter months when the days are shorter, colder, and I spend more time indoors. 

 

Now I am no beauty expert, but I have experienced the slump of blahness enough to have a few simple solutions to help escape those negative feelings. 

 

Get Moving

 

This is my absolute number one, top-of-the-list, go-to strategy. If you can get outside that is even better, but at least spend ten minutes doing some form of physical activity. Bonus points if it makes you smile. 

 

Some of my favorite activities include going for a walk, dancing with my husband or kiddos, pilates, weight lifting, riding my horse, riding my bicycle, and cleaning!

Even if I don’t feel like moving when I make myself get going with the knowledge that it is only for ten minutes I usually end up continuing on long after my ten minutes are up. The best part is how much better it makes me feel!

Get Dressed Every Day

 

I can’t stress this point enough! When you look sloppy you feel sloppy. Even a T-shirt and jeans will make me feel a million times better. 

 

Put On a Little Make-up and/or Jewelry

 

Some people have strong views against make-up. If that is you-no problem! Skip this tip or put on your favorite earrings (if you do jewelry). 

 

For my fellow make-up wearers, a little mascara and eyeliner go a long way! 

 

If you have always steered clear of make-up but would like to try it but don’t know where to begin. I recommend YouTube searching for beginner make-up tips and find one that has a look you like. I was going to recommend some specific channels, but there are so many good ones and it is truly subjective and dependant upon your facial features and personal taste. 

 

Better still, meet with a make-up consultant and have them show you what would work best for you. 

I spend two to five minutes on my full make-up routine and under one minute on just eyeliner and mascara. I say that is sixty seconds well spent! 

Style Your Hair

 

I have extremely thick hair so styling it can be an ordeal. Occasionally I will spend the time to curl it (forty-five minutes minimum), but usually, I put it up in a bun. I really like the particular bun I do. I think it looks nice and it keeps it out of my way on a normal day. This style also creates beautiful waves when I take it out and decide to wear my hair down.

 

I suggest you find an easy hairstyle that you feel good in. Remember, you look more attractive when you feel more attractive. 

 

Smile Every Time You Look in the Mirror

 

My final tip is one I have had to practice, but it has paid off! When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I make myself smile no matter what type of thought flew through my head upon initial sight of myself. 

 

Smiling not only improves our mood we also look more beautiful when we show those pearly whites! Whether you love your smile or not, I promise you look better wearing it than a frown. 

 

Most importantly, remember the value our savior placed on you when he gave his life for you and me. Now THAT is something to smile about!

 

I hope these ideas will help you through your next slump in self-esteem.

 

Be blessed mommas!

Friend,

If you’re reading this and you don’t know our God. If you haven’t been covered by the blood of Jesus and been given his Holy Spirit as a comforter, please reach out! He is waiting for you and wanting for you to accept his FREE gift of salvation. Don’t wait. It is THE most important decision you will ever make. Make it today.

With love,

Mollie

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family

11 Ways to Show Love to Your Spouse Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

11 Ways to Show Love to Your Spouse Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

by | Feb 5, 2024 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

Welcome to February- the traditional month of love.

Do you ever struggle to show appreciation and love to your husband? Do you feel like you’re in a rut of complaining and nagging? Or do you simply want to show a little extra love this month? Whatever category you fall into, I know you’ll benefit from these ideas!

 

There are times it is easy to show love and appreciation to our spouses, then there is the rest of the time. Life’s many stressors can cause me to not only underappreciate my husband, but to start blaming him for difficult times and situations. 

 

As we roll into this new month, my mind quickly goes to planning a special Valentine’s Day dinner, but I am challenging myself to focus this entire second month of 2024 on making my man feel loved and appreciated. 

 

Whether you’re reading this in February or not, you can use these ideas any time of year to remind your special someone that you care.

 

Choose Him

 

When you’re at a social event (or for those of us with larger families- just sitting down to dinner)
Choose to sit by him. Save a seat beside yourself so he knows you prioritize him and enjoy his presence.

Write Notes

 

Sending a sweet text is good, but there is just something extra special about giving a handwritten card or note. Leave it in his vehicle or lunch box, stick it to the bathroom mirror, put it in a book he is reading or his Bible, or even mail it to him. He is sure to appreciate the effort.

Make Him a Special Dinner

  They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think most men have a lot deeper character than that, but I don’t know a man who doesn’t appreciate good food. In fact, when I asked my husband what was one thing I do, or could do, that would make him feel loved, he replied that making dinner or some special meal for him is close to the top of his list!

Hug For 15-30 Seconds

 

When you hug for a longer than “normal” time, it really helps strengthen your bond. And that is always a good thing in marriage.

Kiss Everyday

 

Adding a longer kiss to a longer hug is sure to make your husband feel loved. Sometimes we get away from kissing the longer we have been married. I know that has been true for me. 

 

Building intimacy in marriage is so important! And intimacy is not just sex. So kiss him good morning, and goodbye, and welcome home, and goodnight.

Don’t Complain About His Messes

  There are some men who clean up after themselves and work hard to help with household chores, and then there are the other 99%. Haha! Just kidding. However, my guy’s strength is not tidiness. I often fall into the harmful trap of complaining and making a big deal out of cleaning up after him. Muddy footprints again?!?!? I can tell it makes him feel terrible because he honestly just doesn’t think about it. I am determined to be better about this- at least for a month!

Hold Hands

 

The physical connection created by holding hands symbolizes the emotional connection this act creates. Be proud to hold the hand of your man!

Bake or Buy Him a Sweet Treat

  What guy doesn’t love dessert? If you’re not a baker, try picking up his favorite treat at the store or bakery. He might even share!

Tell Him What You Love About Him

  Remind your spouse, and yourself, of all the things you love about him. From talents and character traits to your favorite physical features of his.

Pray For Him

  I never realized how much it meant to my husband that I pray for him until it came up in conversation one day. He was so grateful and appreciative that it shocked me! Our guys face so much temptation, stress, and decision-making, on top of shouldering a great responsibility every single moment in this life. They need every ounce of divine help! Praying for them is a very valuable tool we have in our tool belt as wives. Utilize it!

Thank Him

 

“Thank you!” Those two words are extremely powerful. Thank him for all the big and little things he does for you and the family. He may not always do things the way you would, or want him to, and that’s okay.

Show him some appreciation for everything from pouring your morning coffee to letting you sleep in an extra twenty minutes. Thank him for providing for your family, or staying home with the kids. Thank him for being the spiritual leader in your home- even if you don’t always agree with his leadership. Thank him for loving you!

I hope you enjoy implementing some, or all, of these ideas to help show your man how much you love him!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Friend,

If you’re reading this and you don’t know our God. If you haven’t been covered by the blood of Jesus and been given his Holy Spirit as a comforter, please reach out! He is waiting for you and wanting for you to accept his FREE gift of salvation. Don’t wait. It is THE most important decision you will ever make. Make it today.

With love,

Mollie

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family
Happy New Year

Happy New Year

by | Jan 19, 2024 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

Happy New Year, OBM readers!

I hope your year has started off well.

Our year began with a rough patch.

Three of my baby nephews were hospitalized with a respiratory illness. Two of them being less than two months old. It was very scary, and it seemed that only bad news was coming our way. Just as things were starting to look up with the nephews, our two youngest daughters contracted the same virus, and we were soon consumed with their care.

Trevor and I were up around the clock trying to keep the girls hydrated and breathing as easily as possible. About four days into our daughters’ illness, our four-year-old seemed to turn a corner while our six-year-old went even farther downhill.

That morning, she started acting strange, so I decided to check her oxygen level with our pulse oximeter, and I was shocked to find her levels in the high 70s-low 80s. When we arrived at the ER, her oxygen was at 75, and she was starting to look a little blue. They rushed her back and got her on oxygen and an IV. We ended up spending the next 33 hours in the hospital and the next week and a half on oxygen.

Praise God

Praise God she is back to her normal, energetic, smiley, happy, beautiful self.

As any parent knows, watching your child go through something hard or life-threatening is one of the hardest parts of parenting.

We were right in the middle of a room renovation when all the illness started, and it put our project on hold. Normally that wouldn’t be that big a deal, but we were redoing our boys’ room, and we had EVERYTHING out of their room crammed into my tiny living room and kitchen.

Thankfulness in the chaos

Having all the worry for our children on top of complete chaos was completely overwhelming. Trying to deal with oxygen tanks and hoses with stuff everywhere felt like an insurmountable challenge.

I felt like everything was out of control and over the top.

With all those emotions swirling around, the one thought I kept having was be thankful.
I felt as if the Lord whispered this message to me.

“Be thankful your daughter is alive. Be thankful you have access to good medical care. Be thankful you have insurance. Be thankful you have a house to be messy. Be thankful you have a God who walked by your side through all the scary stuff. Be thankful you are counted worthy to suffer. Be thankful, daughter, because I love you, and I am more than enough.”

“Consider it pure joy……when you face trials.” James 1:2

Fully believe that thankfulness is the key to a happy life. When you’re constantly looking for things to be thankful for, you will find them! The reverse is also true. If you’re always looking for the negative or the insult or the injustice- you will ALWAYS find it.

Proverbs 12:16 “The vexation of the fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

I have often struggled with feeling insulted and slighted by comments that may or may not be intended as offensive. If I am honest, I would have to say that the vast majority of what I have chosen (yes, I said chosen) to be offended by has not been intended to be hurtful by the other person.

Why? Why would I want to be hurt? Why would anyone? Well, it usually boils down to pride. We want everyone to respect us, delight in us, agree with us, and think we are the best thing since sliced bread.

Ultimately, we want to be like God. We aren’t content and thankful for what we have and what God is doing in and with our lives. Much like the first woman, Eve, we are always looking for more, more, more! More respect. More praise. More stuff.

Well, I have said,” ENOUGH!” I have enough, and my God is MORE than enough!

I am so thankful and excited to share that my family’s 2024 New Year’s focus will be thankfulness in all things. Good things. Bad things. Fun things. Hard things. ALL things.

I invite you to join me on my thankfulness journey this year. Check out the FREE printables below for a 7-day and a 30-day thankfulness challenge template to help get you started!

I Thess. 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

7 Day and 30 Day Thankfullness Challenge

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family

5 Activities to Keep Christ in Christmas

5 Activities to Keep Christ in Christmas

by | Dec 10, 2023 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

Christmas time is upon us

The holiday season has descended upon us like a blizzard in the mountains. I don’t know about you, but I already feel weary and tired. I really DO love this time of year. However, it is incredibly easy to find myself overbooked, exasperated, and completely missing the whole point of this joyous season.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

This is the time of year when most of the world is more willing to hear about our loving Savior. Spreading His good news should always be our focus, especially during this particular time.

Here are five fun activities to help keep your and your children’s focus on what is really important this holiday season.

Christmas Caroling

Many of our “Christmas carols” share the good news of our Savior’s birth. Take this time to sing about this blessed event. Get a group of friends, or head out with your kids to your local nursing home, hospital, shut-ins, etc.

Baking Christmas Treats

Teaching our kids to serve like Christ and to put others first is so important. Everyone loves a goodie basket (or plate). Gather your children in the kitchen and have an afternoon of baking. You can add in some extra learning if you so desire. Check out my post on practical homeschool tips here for some ideas on how to incorporate math into baking. My family likes to bake gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, fudge, no-bake cookies, and brownies. Be sure to check the printable section for Aunt Nette’s famous fudgy brownie recipe.

Go Look at Christmas Lights

This super easy, fun, and FREE activity is a golden opportunity to slow down and re-focus our minds on Christ. Use this time to talk about how Jesus is the light of the world and how we, as Christians, should be shining his light through our actions, words, and attitudes.

Give a Gift to Someone in Need

My children truly love to give. It warms my heart so much to see their generous spirits shining through. One thing we like to do is go through toys and clothing that are still in good condition and gift those items to someone in need or someone who would be blessed and enjoy them. If your budget allows, you can also set an amount for each kid to spend picking out new gifts for those in need.

Read and Talk About Jesus’ Birth

Last, but certainly not least, read the story of the birth of Christ from your Bible and talk about the mighty power, endless love, and eternal blessing that our God freely gave to us in the form of a newborn baby. What a mighty God we serve!

May you be blessed this holiday season. Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Friend,

If you’re reading this and you don’t know our God. If you haven’t been covered by the blood of Jesus and been given his Holy Spirit as a comforter, please reach out! He is waiting for you and wanting for you to accept his FREE gift of salvation. Don’t wait. It is THE most important decision you will ever make. Make it today.

With love,

Mollie

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family

Overcoming Insecurities

Overcoming Insecurities

by | Nov 13, 2023 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

The Ultimate Farmer

I love this time of year! Planting vegetables in the garden and watching the plants powerfully push their tiny heads through the dirt is truly a miracle to behold.

Did you know God was a gardener? Oh yes! The ultimate farmer!

God is a Husbandman and Shepherd

 

Indeed, there are many references in scripture to God being a husbandman (gardener) and a shepherd. Our Heavenly Father is the husbandman who prunes the branches (us) on the True Vine (Jesus). John 15

Jesus is also the Good Shepherd who watches over his sheep. He protects us, guides us and feeds us spiritually. John 10 

Farm Lessons

I truly believe God uses all sorts of circumstances and events to teach us more about Himself.

One such event happend yesterday.

As a cattle rancher’s wife, I have a thing for cows. You will find cow prints all over my house.

For example, my AMAZING mother-in-law just made Trevor and I the most incredible quilt for our bed. It has our brand in the middle of it surrounded by embroidered flowers with our kids names in them and bordered by lots of cow influenced fabrics. I LOVE it!

Additionally, instead of a stick person family on my suburban’s back window I have a cow herd! I have cowprint everything from coasters to earrings. I even have a pair of cowprint leggings!

My love of cows spills over into what we watch on T.V. Westerns are big around my house along with “Ferdinand”. We also enjoy a YouTube channel called “The Hoof GP”. This guy works on cow hooves for living. 

Where is the spiritual application in some guy trimming bovine feet?

Yesterday I watched him trim a cow’s hoof that, from the outside looked pretty normal. He knew something was wrong because of the way she was walking so he dug a little deeper. Without warning, pus began to shoot out as he chipped away at the poor girl’s foot. 

The infection had apparently been caused by trauma to her toe and had spread all the way up to her heel, creating a large cavity where the hoof horn was no longer connected to the corium, or fleshy part of the foot that produces new hoof growth.

In order to help this cow he had to remove all the detached hoof horn so that the corium could heal and grow new, healthy, attached hoof horn. 

After that, he glued a rubber block onto the other side of her hoof to help take the weight off of her injured side. 

Spiritual Application

The lesson I gleaned from this video was one that hits a little close to home. Insecurity. We all have insecurities. Some recognized, other’s hidden.

One thing all insecurities have in common is they are rooted in pride, fear or shame.

Much like that cow’s hoof, we allow some form of trauma to our pride fester and create a chasm, disconnecting us from our source of life-Jesus Christ. 

Oftentimes we don’t even realize we are acting out of pride, but if we are willing to take an honest look at our hearts, we will find most insecurities stem from our fear of feeling inferior.  

 

Scripture Talk

So, what is pride and what does the scripture say about it?

Pride is a conceited sense of one’s own superiority.

  • I John 2:15-16 tells us pride is worldy; not of God.
  • It causes self deception. Jeremiah 49:16
  • Pride leads to destruction. Proverbs 16:18
  • It also hinders us from coming to God. Psalm 10:4
  • Pride gives an inflated sense of self. Proverbs 26:12

Wow! If pride is so bad maybe we should look at the opposite behavior. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about humility. 

  • Christ was the ultimate example of humilty. Philippians 2:5-16
  • We are told to only take pride in our Lord. I Corinthians 1:10
  • We are to put other’s needs above our own. Philippians 2:3-4
  • God will reward humility. James 4:6,10, Matthew 18:4

 

Lean on Your Lord

Just like the hoof GP shaves the infected hoof horn away to expose the underlying problem, our God chips away at our yucky and, through His Holy Spirit, heals our injuries. Much like the block the doc glued on the injured bovine’s hoof, Jesus tells us to lean on Him for strength and support.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.          Matthew 11:29

Conclusion

To wrap up, I encourage each of you to pray with me that the Lord will open our eyes to the hidden source of every insecurity we battle and then allow Him to clean and heal our wounds while we lean on Him.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him. Colossians 3:17

Download Free Printables

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family