If I were a season I’d, without a doubt, be Spring. I love everything about spring. The flower and trees that bloom in bright, gorgeous colors. The dazzling green color the grass turns after the first spring shower. The warmer temperature that pull us out of sweaters and scarves and into cute spring dresses, comfortable shorts and sandals that allow our toes to breath again.

And right smack is the middle of spring comes Easter, and Glory be to God I can finally pull my white pants out again… maybe that is just a southern clothing etiquette faux pas… but down south white pants can only be worn from Easter to Labor Day. White is my favorite spring/summer color. Doesn’t matter if it’s white pants, shorts or skirt, I, mother to three cute, but perpetually dirty boys, love to wear white.

Now back to Easter… what a beautiful holiday we have the opportunity to celebrate. Growing up we always celebrated Easter with a service at our church then traveled to my grandparents house for a delicious (my grandma could cook) ham lunch with all the aunts and uncles followed by an Easter egg hunt with all the cousins in her yard, which was peppered with gooseberry bushes.

Here I am just a few years later with a family of my own. I always imagined we’d have the traditional Easter celebration with our family… but I didn’t foresee marrying a pastor. In a pastor’s home Easter looks a little different. First off, Dad is doing 9 services on Easter weekend so to say he’s a little checked out on Sunday afternoon would be an understatement. He’s “stick a fork in him, he’s done” done by Sunday evening.

Before we had children, it really wasn’t a big deal, but we all know once kids come in the picture things change a bit. Once our kids grew old enough to enjoy Easter celebrations we, as parents, made a conscious effort to do all of our discussion of Easter and read the crucifixion and resurrection story from our children’s bible all before Easter weekend actually happens. It builds excitement for the whole family knowing that we’re part of a church leading people to celebrate the greatest gift they’ll ever receive. Plus we want to share our excitement of celebrating Easter with our kids before we share it with anyone else. We want to make sure we’re at the top of our game when we tell them the truth of Christ’s resurrection. We want to make sure they’re not getting our leftovers.

And no worries, we fit in the traditional lunch and follow it with an Easter egg hunt in the yard…we just make sure we take care of the really important stuff as a family while Dad is still at the top of his game.

Our kids will have Easter memories and they’ll look a little different than the memories I have of childhood Easters. But that’s okay, because our true focus in making sure they know why we have chosen to dedicate our lives to sharing the most precious story of all time.

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Brandi is a wife to Pete and a mom to Jett, Gage, and Brewer. Her life is truly “Brandi & Boys.” Brandi has been a pastor’s wife for almost 15 years. She and her husband planted Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. Brandi has a heart for women in ministry and co-leads a ministry for pastors’ wives at LeadingandLovingIt.com. Brandi loves to be organized, but hates to clean and ice cream is her favorite food.

Winter is my least favorite season. I’m, personally, so happy to know spring is just around the corner that I’m about to bust. Maybe it’s because my family loves to be out doors and winter gives us a bit of cabin fever. And believe me, cabin fever with three boys equals chaos. There are only so many movies you can watch and video games you can play. When the wiggles get bad enough we can even tolerate mediocre weather for some time outside.

Just a few weeks ago we were stuck inside with some rainy, chilly weather. Weather that makes you just want to curl up under a blanket… unless you’re a kid, then it’s the kind of weather that starts to make them antsy, so out we went, we headed straight into the woods without a toy or video game in site, just the great outdoors.

It was only a matter of minutes until the boys found some vines hanging off of trees. They spent the next two hours doing their best Tarzan impersonations.

Their imaginations were in overdrive.

They were dodging arrows.

They were swinging over boiling lava and man eating crocodiles.

They rescued a few princesses.

They fought a few bad guys.

It was a good day. And they didn’t fight with one another one single time.

I think the reason it’s so natural for Pete and I to head outside with our children is because creation is our worship pathway. For me creation has always been my direct pathway to God. It just takes one short walk outside to connect with my heart, to really center myself back with Him. One gorgeous sunset to leave me in awe of His power. Stress and tension can fade into the background. It allows me to “Be Still” and allow myself to rest in His presence.

Worship, for me, is a very close second. I love music that fuses my spirit closer to God. Music expresses the desires of my heart. So a good run on a hiking trail with my worship playlist in my earbuds is awful close to heaven on earth for me!

I have a girlfriend who experiences God best through serving. She loves jumping in and helping when she sees a need. Her heart is full after she’s served God to the best of her ability. We have a staff spouse who’s direct connect to God is through missions. She finds herself experiencing God most while taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves.

It’s so important to know your pathway to God. To know what draws you to him with an intensity you can’t define. Knowing when you feel far away what can align you back into His presence. Your pathway can attune you to hear His voice with a clearness that brings comfort.

Will my boys develop creation as their worship pathway? That’s yet to be seen. But I love that they can combat cabin fever in a place that brings their dad and I peace. My boys don’t know it yet, but they’ll never forget that day. As time moves on and the pressures of life build, their mind will effortlessly drift to that place, to that moment, for a brief but life giving escape.

Kids. They’re a gift. Cherish every moment.

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Brandi is a wife to Pete and a mom to Jett, Gage, and Brewer. Her life is truly “Brandi & Boys.” Brandi has been a pastor’s wife for almost 15 years. She and her husband planted Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. Brandi has a heart for women in ministry and co-leads a ministry for pastors’ wives at LeadingandLovingIt.com. Brandi loves to be organized, but hates to clean and ice cream is her favorite food.

I have to say February is probably my least favorite month. It’s cold and dreary in Nashville and it’s very well established that I’m not a fan of cold… unless there is snow on the ground and skis on my feet!

But right when February is at it’s coldest and dreariest there comes Valentine’s Day right smack in the middle. All the red and pink really brighten things up around here and lift our spirits. Pete and I have never been big Valentine’s Day people, we celebrate our love 365 days a year so why focus on just one day? Haha… sorry, I couldn’t resist poking a little fun at cupid. Honestly, we’re not big Valentine’s Day people because we hate fighting crowds. We’d rather cook a great steak and enjoy the treat of a loaded baked potato after the kids go to bed. Kick back and enjoy a little peace and quiet in our home, wearing our pajama pants and watching a movie laying on our comfy couch. I think the term I’m looking for is “homebodies.”

Now our kids are big enough to enjoy the holiday… aren’t most things more fun through our kids eyes? So we usually do pink, heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast and try to make some homemade decorations.

When it comes to love and actively showing our kids love I think one of the best ways to do that is through prayer. Sincerely coming to God expressing our desires, concerns and support for those closest to us. Here’s what that looks like in our family.

*Saturday evenings are pretty routine around here. My husband is a pastor and Sundays are so busy that Saturdays are scaled back. We have a low-key dinner, I give the kids baths while Dad studies, then we usually play a game of cards or watch an episode of “Wipe-Out” before everyone heads to bed about 8:30 and I chill out by myself. But a few months ago we decided to shake things up a bit. We had all piled onto one couch (which is one of my favorite family things) and were just kinda wrapping up the day together when Pete asked us to pray for him. So at that moment we stopped, taught our kids how to lay hands on someone and we all specifically prayed for their Daddy and the church. It wasn’t planned, but it sure was precious.

Granted our kids are 10, 7 and 5 so prayer time lasted about 5 minutes. But hearing Jett say, “Thank you God that Dad gets to help change so many lives” was a one of our sweetest family moments. My favorite prayer for their Dad came from Gage a few weeks ago when he prayed “Dear God, help Dad not sweat too much on stage tomorrow.”
So the mini-tradition has continued. It’s become part of our Saturday night routine to stop what we’re doing and pray together as a family specifically for Pete. I love the focus it brings to our evening and the excitement about what the next day might hold. I love that it’s helping teach the boys that being a part of God’s work is an honor. And I love going before God together as Team Wilson.

*We pray every morning on the way to school. Together we come up with three prayer requests then each boys takes their turn to pray and I wrap things up. I love that this habit has taught them God cares about the “small” things as well as the big… school tests, our Compassion child, Sammie, their friendships, their teachers, their teachers’ families, their attitudes towards those they encounter, someone’s pet, and even what will be on their lunch menu.

*Pray for their future spouses. This is a big one for me. I pray for my future daughters-in-laws in private as well as in front of my boys. Let’s face it, in the next 15-20 years we’ll add three girls to our family, that’ll be a blast… and an adjustment. I pray God already begins to knit their hearts together as sisters and as friends. I pray they are raised in a home that loves and honors God. I pray God will join them as one with their mate and carry them through the good times and give them the strength to fight through the bad.

*And the prayer I most often pray for my children is God will grow them together as brothers and as friends. Another prayer I pray privately as well as in front of my boys. They get tired of hearing me say, “Friends will come and go, but a brother is here forever.” I pray for their unity for a lifetime. One of the greatest gifts I can receive is seeing my children develop friendships, laughing together, supporting one another and seeing them walk through life together.

Those are some practical and easy ways we show love for one another through prayer.

What’s one way your family prays for each another? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:13

PS… This post by Priscilla Shirer “God’s Words Spoken Over Our Children” is a great resource for praying over your children.

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Brandi is a wife to Pete and a mom to Jett, Gage, and Brewer. Her life is truly “Brandi & Boys.” Brandi has been a pastor’s wife for almost 15 years. She and her husband planted Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. Brandi has a heart for women in ministry and co-leads a ministry for pastors’ wives at LeadingandLovingIt.com. Brandi loves to be organized, but hates to clean and ice cream is her favorite food.

January is the time to make changes and changes we’re making! Okay, not too many huge changes, we want success so we don’t overshoot our goals. This year we’re implementing a chore chart and pay status (commission, freelance labor, whatever you want to call it).

I really consider myself fortunate because from day one of our marriage, Pete and I shared similar views on money. We’re both “pay cash” and “maintain low debt” kinda people. My parents always managed their money well. They didn’t live above their means. In fact, I remember when I was about 12 my dad taking me with him to our small town bank to pay off our mortgage. Back then all mortgages had a payment book and when all the payments were made a stamp was put through the entire book making a loud ringing sound… basically everyone in the bank would know you’d payed off a large debt. It was a time of celebration. Folks congratulated you and patted you on the back as you were leaving. My parents have lived mortgage free since I was 12. That truly doesn’t happen much anymore.

I began my first paying job when I was 15. Waiting tables paid for my senior prom dress, spending money and provided all my gas money. Balancing a checkbook was a feat I tackled at 16. I even tithed off of my tips (another principle my parents instilled in me as I remember my mom filling out their pink offering envelope every Sunday morning).

But looking back my parents didn’t give a ton of verbal guidance on how to manage money… they just modeled it. They never overspent, they weren’t extravagant, and we made payments on time. Basic concepts lived out in everyday life.

Our children are currently 10, 7 and 5 and there is no better time to start helping them become good stewards. A few months ago my husband did an interview with Rachel Cruz. Not sure who Rachel Cruz is? Well, she’s best known as Dave Ramsey’s daughter. The archived video can be found HERE in a message entitled “Wealth vs. Riches”. It’s worth your time to listen to her perspectives and thoughts on managing money. After the interview Pete and I were both convicted on the same point. If the number one reason recorded for divorce is money… and the divorce rate is currently at 50% of all marriages ending in divorce, then we’re doing a HUGE DISSERVICE to our children by not prepping them to manage their money in a healthy way. We are helping set up their marriage for failure by not using the time they’re under our roof as a time to teach them biblical guidelines for handling the blessings God has bestowed upon them.

But a chore chart serves more than just teaching them how to manage money. It also…
• Allows us to approach our home chores as “Team Wilson.” Our family is in this life together… even where dirty toilets are involved.
• I actually think we’ll refer to the jobs as “Household Responsibilities” rather than “Chore Chart.”
• My kids will get paid (a very small amount) for chores. Yes, an allowance, which I’ve always said I wouldn’t do… but recently (as I’ve already stated) my views have changed.
• Plus we feel strongly about teaching our kids a “Give, Save, Spend” technique.
• I think it’s important for our kids to “contribute” to our family.
• My future daughter-in-laws will love me for preparing good husbands for them!

One of the main resources I’m using to introduce “Give, Save, Spend” is a book entitled Three Cups from Tommy Nelson. Three Cups is a beautiful lesson in life and money specifically created for children.

Three Cups is a heartwarming tale that will help teach children positive and generous attitudes as they learn to handle their own money. It’s a simple story that helps open the doors of communication as your entire family discusses how to appropriately take care of what you’ve been given as you charitably think about others. It’s a great way to introduce concepts that will leave a lasting impact in your children’s lives. The story is so easy to implement that you’ll find yourself weaving Three Cups into everyday discussions and actions. And the illustrations are beautiful.

That’s what January is gearing up to look like for us. I’d love to hear your feedback on implementing chore charts, payments systems and resources you’ve found helpful!

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Brandi is a wife to Pete and a mom to Jett, Gage, and Brewer. Her life is truly “Brandi & Boys.” Brandi has been a pastor’s wife for almost 15 years. She and her husband planted Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. Brandi has a heart for women in ministry and co-leads a ministry for pastors’ wives at LeadingandLovingIt.com. Brandi loves to be organized, but hates to clean and ice cream is her favorite food.

In case you haven’t noticed it’s December! My family loves Christmas. We light up the whole, and I mean WHOLE, house. We eat peanut butter balls and sugar cookies until we’re sick. We wrap gifts and make ornaments. Our holiday season probably looks a lot like yours.

But let’s face it… as much as we all love Christmas it’s also a crazy busy time. Programs, staff parties, year end meetings, the list goes on and on. Pete and I are very purposeful about creating memories and traditions with our family. We don’t want our kids to just remember the meetings… we want them to realize why we passionately serve God, we want to help create spiritual virtues in their lives.

One of our favorite family Christmas traditions is the Jesse Tree. Jesse Tree is a way of celebrating the Advent season that addresses, in particular, how the Old Testament stories all point to the coming of Christ. It’s based on Isaiah 11:1-2.

We use a very simple Jesse Tree curriculum and I’ll be honest, we don’t fit in everyday, but we do try to do it most days. We started a few years ago and used paper ornaments the boys cut out and colored, but more recently the moms’ group I led decided to do a Jesse Tree ornament swap.

The swap was easy, everyone chose a day and made 26 of the same ornament…. I was in charge of Bethlehem.

Then we got together and swapped…

It was so easy and so much fun. I was so excited about the unique collection of ornaments I received. The collection of ornaments have definitely become part of our yearly family tradition that we all look forward to pulling out of the attic.

We keep a special tree sit up in the kitchen with the Jesse Tree ornaments and curriculum close by.

Then each night we sit down as a family, read the scripture, hang the ornament, have age appropriate discussion and close with one of the kids praying. It’s a sweet time.

That’s one way our family slows down during this busy ministry season to focus on the Main Thing.

What does your family do to help maintain your focus during the Christmas season? I’d love to hear some of your family traditions.

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Brandi is a wife to Pete and a mom to Jett, Gage, and Brewer. Her life is truly “Brandi & Boys.” Brandi has been a pastor’s wife for almost 15 years. She and her husband planted Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. Brandi has a heart for women in ministry and co-leads a ministry for pastors’ wives at LeadingandLovingIt.com. Brandi loves to be organized, but hates to clean and ice cream is her favorite food.