This year was the year of change for the better. With big sacrifices and choices we have made we are thankful we took the big step. 

Logan turned three in May and we did a zoo trip with his friends to celebrate. He is our funny, sweet, adventurous one. 

Jason turned five in October and we took him to Great Wolf Lodge for a day trip to celebrate. He is our hilarious, energetic, friendly, creative one. Jason finished his second year at his preschool and we made the transition to full year around homeschool in June. 

Both boys are thriving with homeschool life and Jason says he doesn’t want to go back to other school. 

This Summer we put our house on the market and made the big move out of state. We were also able to visit my family in Minnesota and Peter’s in Montana before the move. 

So far we are loving our new place and are hoping to find a home soon. We love being able to be outside most days, and being able to meet up with friends who live here too. 

We are extremely thankful to those who have been so supportive along the way. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New year, 

The Echols Family

Things like VBS and Awana programs are amazing opportunities for evangelism for both children and families. They can be over looked as just fun things for children but in reality there is so much more then what is on the surface. These are souls we are fighting for. They are crucial ways of planting seeds in hearts. 

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned each task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have only one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

When children are dropped off at these activities they go home repeating what they learn through songs, sharing the stories and showing what they’ve made. It then can branch out into something beautiful. These stories do happen. Most importantly these times might be the only time some children hear about God.

I love that there are so many gifts the body of Christ has and their isn’t one way to teach about God. Crafts are hands on ways to teach a lesson. Songs are lighthearted ways to engrain truth in their hearts. Games are great for connecting with everyone. These are wonderful ways to connect and teach just as the Lord wants us to connect and learn about him. 

1 Corinthians’s 12:14-20 

Now the body is not made of one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” It would not be for this reason to cease to be a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where was the sense of hearing be? It’s a body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all at one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

We invite, donate, participate and share. They then have the opportunity to hear, choose, and hopefully receive. This isn’t lighthearted. It’s impactful.

More on my sense of urgency and encouragement for children here.

Read more: Creative Mission Read more: Creative Mission

As I stare at these silly cards I reflect on the other night watching my baby hand them one by one to a dear friend of mine as he leaned against her.
My baby hardly leans on people that are not mom and dad. I took the moment in watching him pass to a person that may have not have been there if someone didn’t listen. If someone didn’t notice, or stop in the business of their own life to hear her internal cry.
When someone tells you they are depressed, they are not being selfish. It’s a cry for help that should never be brushed aside. 
This moment of my child handing cards to my friend gripped my heart. It was only a few years ago when she attempted suicide. And here she was right where she needed to be.
ALIVE
Transforming each day into a Godly women working through her rejection, abuse, chaos, and turmoil. Battling, growing and leaning on the Holy Spirit and becoming the Princess warrior she was made to be.

February 29th, 2020

To all the Mamas out there ,

Look down at your stretch marks. Your scars. Your stretched out skin. These are your tiger stripes. Your badge of honor. You may try to use all the creams and work outs wanting to erase them. But tigers don’t do that. They wear them on the outside.

Mamma, you are the one who is fearless. You are the one who pushes your body not for yourself but for the little worlds you want to give your all to. Your stripes are more stunning that a six pack. Your stripes are selfless not selfish. They are the result of bringing in life not serving its own. You may hate them, but others would kill for them. These marks are the beauty the world cannot see. That the world is missing out on. No more letting the world feed you with lies of defining beauty. Don’t let it take away the truth behind your stripes. Count them as your blessings, because that is what they are.

You are beautiful,

you are strong,

you are fearless,

you are selfless,

you are a mom.

If you know a mama who needs a bit of encouragement please share

The Worshiping Mom

A Completely Different Women

    As a newlyweds Peter and I have been working on surrounding ourselves in a community of encouragement. These next few years are years of preparation as we expand on our family. Although I’m an introvert I am learning how important it  really is to have a good community.

   We have come to realize if someone is not uplifting us they will not be uplifting for our children.  Even if they are family. Of course we live in a world where our children will hear every name in the book and be let down.  But it doesn’t have to be from the people we choose to spend the majority of our time with.

    Peter already is surrounded by a lot of chaos and unhealthy people at his job, but when he goes and meets up with other godly men he is encouraged.

Proverbs 27:17  As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

    Our Church family is encouraging in our walk with Christ but once a week for a few hours is not consistent enough. Dropping in and leaving isn’t going to make the community it’s about building relationships. It’s about: praying for one another, helping with specific needs, teaming up in ministry, fellowship out side of Church, and comforting and celebrating with one another.

Hebrews 10:23-24  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

 

More writings on boundaries:

Could I Get A little Privacy?

Dear Embarrasing Parents

Sayanara Heartache

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to have this issue maybe you have it too. I used to never write, underline or mark my Bible because I didn’t want to ruin it. It was too sacred to me because it’s God’s word. But the truth is he wants us to ruin our Bibles.

Ever heard this quote? 

So much truth is screaming out in this quote.

Oh how our Heavenly father rejoices in our torn up Bibles. 

 There are days when I want to read my Bible but don’t know where to go so I go find my underlined or highlighted verses.They are the verses that I highlight because they speak to my heart. Some times the flesh side of me (who I was before I became a new creation in Christ) gets all distracted or loses motive to even read it. But my highlights catch my eyes and I am reminded as I read each verse how faithful God is.

Beleivers I write this to encourage you. We all get unmotivated at times or caught up in… dare I say it….ourselves. But I encourage you to pick it up, read your highlights, make them, read, make more, tear your Bible up, and fall more in love with Christ each day.

 

https://hylaandpeterechols.com/2015/11/27/read-and-glue/

https://hylaandpeterechols.com/2015/11/18/romans-reality/

 

Then these bad boys came into my life.

Get them at Walmart.

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