This week Jennifer and Phil are experiencing a milestone in their lives... taking their firstborn son to college. As you keep them in your hearts and prayers, we would like to share with you an article that Jennifer wrote four years ago about milestones.

The road of life I traveled recently hosted two rather significant milestones. Our oldest son Clayton started high school, and our youngest son Connor started kindergarten.

That means that our back to school shopping consisted of buying Clearasil and crayons, a scientific calculator and safety scissors, a protractor and play-doh. Having our kids almost ten years apart makes life pretty exciting. Several years ago I used to quip that I had a PRE-teen, a PRE-schooler, and I was PRE-menopausal. Three to the power of three is PREtty exciting.

On the day they started school this year, I couldn't decide whether to cry or celebrate.

Milestones do that, don't they? They give us an occasion to look back to where we've traveled and look forward to the road ahead. Sometimes when we look back we want to celebrate because we've come so far, yet some times when we glance back, we shed a tear of longing or loss... knowing that we can't ever retrace our steps.

Milestones are intended to mark progress, and keep us on the right path.

When life's road brings you to some milestones -- ones worth celebrating or ones that warrant tears -- let them become stepping stones, not stumbling blocks.

Sometimes, life's road turns and twists unexpectedly, and we find ourselves at difficult milestones like funerals, hurricanes, or pink slips.

Don't be discouraged.

Sometimes the milestones we dread, actually lead us to the life about which we dream. God can use those difficult milestones as stepping stones toward a path of gratefulness, contentment and peace. Whether your recent milestones have caused you to shed a tear or lift a cheer, view them as spiritual markers - reminders of God's provision and presence along the way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET

This week's question.
How do I know if I'm becoming too self-absorbed or self-aware?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

Last week's question.
I hear people talking about being happy, but I don't "feel" happy. What's happiness?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

The best information we receive about the nuts and bolts of Women's Ministry is when we hear what you all are doing "in the trenches." Our bi-monthly ministry poll is your opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with all of our subscribers!

This Week's Question is:

How would you describe the support of your church leadership for women's ministries?

Answer it HERE.

Our most recent question asked, "What kind of outreach will your ministry be involved with in the next three months?"

Here's what you said...

52% - Neighborhood Focused (Bible studies, community building, etc.)
24% - Collection of Goods (food pantry, clothing, etc.)
12% - Crisis Ministry (domestic violence, support groups, etc.)
8% - Mission Trip (to somewhere outside your own community)
4% - Educational (school programs, GED training, ESL, etc.)

You are always so generous in sharing what you're up to, and this time is no exception. Here are some other ideas we received...

Participating in a fund raising walk
Making quilts for the terminally ill
Providing musical performances in nursing homes
Hosting a community block party
Providing a community Thanksgiving dinner
Moms in Touch
Offering support groups
Holding a community work day
Hosting small group dinners

You are a terrific example. Thanks for all your good work and thanks for sharing!

Visit these past sponsors:

Bridget Taylor

Beauty by The Book, a 7- week, DVD-based Bible study by Laurie Cole.

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