Last week I had a theme-day; a day when the same theme was woven through everything I heard. By the end of the day I had to wonder and try to decipher what it all meant. It went something like this...
I overheard two friends talking about God stirring up women to be like "keys" to unlock a movement of freedom in the way we act, think and live; to have vision beyond the limits we set ourselves in; to realize our potential and power to influence our homes, communities and world. It's likely I have misquoted them and added a few of my thoughts, but it was something along those lines.
Showing posts with label Spiritual Growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Growth. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
My Interrupted Life
Funny thing--I've been wanting to write all summer about what life is like being constantly interrupted by little ones and what that does to my brain. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but if you walked through my house in the middle of the day, there's always a trail of unfinished things because every 2.5 minutes some little person needs something that usually requires me to go to a different room in the house. Obviously by the time I'm back, I've forgotten what I was doing before. And not being gifted with the multi-tasking talents most females have, by the end of the day my brain is mush. Which is why I have not taken the time to write about this all summer, since the only uninterrupted time I have is when the little angels are sleeping, which again, is mush-brain time. My poor husband. :) So how am I writing this now? Mostly one-handed, with a squirrelly one-year-old in lap, next to a two-year-old who insists the toy parrot needs to pee, and across from a singing four-year-old with a heaven-sent obsession with trains that keeps him easily occupied.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Earlybird Martha
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| "Awaken the dawn" |
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Scenic Sunday: More Yes, Less No
Two things happen quite regularly in my life...well, that was vague. There are more than two things that happen regularly. Let me start again...
There are two realizations that I encounter almost every Sunday:
1. All the random "deep" thoughts of the past week come crashing together into one big logical idea, often influenced by the message I hear at church.
2. I'm humbly reminded of how parenting is as much about me becoming the adult God wants me to be as it is about my kids becoming the adults God wants them to be.
There are two realizations that I encounter almost every Sunday:
1. All the random "deep" thoughts of the past week come crashing together into one big logical idea, often influenced by the message I hear at church.
2. I'm humbly reminded of how parenting is as much about me becoming the adult God wants me to be as it is about my kids becoming the adults God wants them to be.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Feed Yourself!
One of the main things any mama is told while pregnant and after giving birth is to eat well. Your baby's health depends so much on your own health. Have you ever thought of that beyond food though?
Just like it can be so hard to chose the salad over the donut, it is equally hard to chose "higher quality" things to feed your mind, heart and spirit with! We all know the best decisions are not made when we are tired and the fact is, we mamas are almost always tired.
Just like it can be so hard to chose the salad over the donut, it is equally hard to chose "higher quality" things to feed your mind, heart and spirit with! We all know the best decisions are not made when we are tired and the fact is, we mamas are almost always tired.
You Can't Do It
How's that for encouraging? This seems to be the message I keep getting lately in every area of life: you can't do it. It's actually an encouraging message! You see, I'm not capable, talented or wise enough. I'm not sufficiently loving, caring or compassionate...and heaven knows I'm not patient enough. I came to the great realization that NOBODY is born naturally patient. We've all said things like "I just don't have patience for that." Well, no one does. "I'm so patient" said no one ever! :)
There are situations and seasons of life that are just plain hard. Surely you can point to several in your past or your present. I thought it was just me for a while, but every time people see us with our three kids ages 3 and under, they give us that look that says "that's tough". And they don't mean it in a bad way. It is tough. Specially if they themselves have graduated from the baby/toddler stage of parenting, they know. It has helped me feel validated that I'm not just bad at this...this really is hard and it's ok to struggle. Parenting is one of the hardest things we have ever done and we are only three years into it!
Then there's marriage... no wonder they say most divorces happen when the kids are toddlers or after they've graduated from school! Take two sleep-deprived, exhausted-in-every-way people and surround them with cute darlings who cry a lot, stink often and who cause them to self-sacrifice in more ways than they ever imagined... let's just say, it's not a very romantic picture!
And yet, I can honestly say that I LOVE my life with all my heart. I am in love with my sweet husband more than ever, and I melt with love over my beautiful babies every single day. The reason is that I'm learning more and more that I can't do this at all. But nothing is impossible with God! I'm never enough, but He always is. I don't have what it takes, but He has that and more! If I had any bit of capability for managing on my own, I wouldn't need God in my life. But I do need Him and that is why even some of the toughest times can be the most beautiful. I've learned that even asking Him to take hardships away isn't always the best answer because it is through these things that He makes every day more beautiful than the last.
It's still hard. It's more work than I ever imagined. I still cry. I often feel frazzled. And then I remember I can't do it because I'm not supposed to do it alone. If God is for us, who can be against us?
There are situations and seasons of life that are just plain hard. Surely you can point to several in your past or your present. I thought it was just me for a while, but every time people see us with our three kids ages 3 and under, they give us that look that says "that's tough". And they don't mean it in a bad way. It is tough. Specially if they themselves have graduated from the baby/toddler stage of parenting, they know. It has helped me feel validated that I'm not just bad at this...this really is hard and it's ok to struggle. Parenting is one of the hardest things we have ever done and we are only three years into it!
Then there's marriage... no wonder they say most divorces happen when the kids are toddlers or after they've graduated from school! Take two sleep-deprived, exhausted-in-every-way people and surround them with cute darlings who cry a lot, stink often and who cause them to self-sacrifice in more ways than they ever imagined... let's just say, it's not a very romantic picture!
And yet, I can honestly say that I LOVE my life with all my heart. I am in love with my sweet husband more than ever, and I melt with love over my beautiful babies every single day. The reason is that I'm learning more and more that I can't do this at all. But nothing is impossible with God! I'm never enough, but He always is. I don't have what it takes, but He has that and more! If I had any bit of capability for managing on my own, I wouldn't need God in my life. But I do need Him and that is why even some of the toughest times can be the most beautiful. I've learned that even asking Him to take hardships away isn't always the best answer because it is through these things that He makes every day more beautiful than the last.
It's still hard. It's more work than I ever imagined. I still cry. I often feel frazzled. And then I remember I can't do it because I'm not supposed to do it alone. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Scenic Sunday: Batterson & Prayer
Sunday nights always find me challenged and inspired. I'm blessed to be a part of a wonderful church that leaves me wishing it was Sunday every day. I think that's what church is supposed to feel like. This morning's message was a challenging reiteration of what I just wrote about: inspiration. Basically, taking it to the next level, which would be "change". Have a responsive heart to the voice of God and obey, not just think about it.
Later this evening, my husband and I started reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It's the book our small group will go through this Fall so we are getting a head start. Three chapters in and I'm already convicted about a major part of my life: prayer. I love books like that where the author clearly and skillfully presents deep truth that resonates in your Spirit. You start out thinking you know all about [insert subject], and suddenly you're hit with a completely new way of seeing it. But then what? There's always that question...what to do with this new and challenging information?
Well, first of all, I need to process through these thoughts for a bit, which is really why I write. It's how I process the best. A little while back I wrote a post about relating to God in a submissive "your-will-be-done" way. I still strongly believe that we need to beware of having a strong grip on "our way" because that may be getting in the way of "His will" which is always better than we can imagine. However, I realized tonight, in reading Batterson's book, that I've kind of developed a passive obedience in my relationship with God. Let me explain.
Batterson says that "if your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are offensive to God". It took me a few minutes to swallow that, but being a parent is awesome because I understand God at so many new levels. When my 3-year-old son whines for me to help him with something that we both know he can easily do, that offends me. It's sometimes his way of getting attention or competing with the younger ones. Or just being lazy. And when I'm juggling a nursing baby, a messy girl and a whiny boy, yes indeed, that's offensive.
Of course, God is infinitely more patient and gracious than me and my parenting skills. But on the flip-side, when my son sweetly asks for my help with something too big for him, some "big boy" step in life that he is trying to master, then I fill up with pride and compassion and grace and all these good things and I gladly help him. That's when I feel like a great parent. So Batterson's statement makes sense to me now.
I feel like I'm starting to see a deeper level of relationship that is possible with God! Maybe, just like any other relationship, He wants more with me than just a boring "yes, Sir" and "Your will be done". I mean, an obedient child is better than a rebellious one, but you can be obedient and compliant and still not have an exciting relationship. My husband doesn't want a wife who only ever responds to him with "Yes, Dear, whatever you want." It's way more interesting and exciting to have a little bit of discussion and conversation over things. So how does that apply to prayer?
According to Batterson, it's boldness, specificity. Being sure of what we hope for, that's the definition of faith. So, am I sure of what I hope for? Or am I vague and unspecific and, well, boring?
Well, that sums up my Sunday night thoughts. I think I will try to start a weekly Sunday post called Scenic Sunday, because come Monday, it's easy to forget all the things that got me stirred up and inspired the day before. I want to remember the "scenery" that Sunday painted for my life and take that into my week. So here's the first Scenic Sunday post.
Later this evening, my husband and I started reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It's the book our small group will go through this Fall so we are getting a head start. Three chapters in and I'm already convicted about a major part of my life: prayer. I love books like that where the author clearly and skillfully presents deep truth that resonates in your Spirit. You start out thinking you know all about [insert subject], and suddenly you're hit with a completely new way of seeing it. But then what? There's always that question...what to do with this new and challenging information?
Well, first of all, I need to process through these thoughts for a bit, which is really why I write. It's how I process the best. A little while back I wrote a post about relating to God in a submissive "your-will-be-done" way. I still strongly believe that we need to beware of having a strong grip on "our way" because that may be getting in the way of "His will" which is always better than we can imagine. However, I realized tonight, in reading Batterson's book, that I've kind of developed a passive obedience in my relationship with God. Let me explain.
Batterson says that "if your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are offensive to God". It took me a few minutes to swallow that, but being a parent is awesome because I understand God at so many new levels. When my 3-year-old son whines for me to help him with something that we both know he can easily do, that offends me. It's sometimes his way of getting attention or competing with the younger ones. Or just being lazy. And when I'm juggling a nursing baby, a messy girl and a whiny boy, yes indeed, that's offensive.
Of course, God is infinitely more patient and gracious than me and my parenting skills. But on the flip-side, when my son sweetly asks for my help with something too big for him, some "big boy" step in life that he is trying to master, then I fill up with pride and compassion and grace and all these good things and I gladly help him. That's when I feel like a great parent. So Batterson's statement makes sense to me now.
I feel like I'm starting to see a deeper level of relationship that is possible with God! Maybe, just like any other relationship, He wants more with me than just a boring "yes, Sir" and "Your will be done". I mean, an obedient child is better than a rebellious one, but you can be obedient and compliant and still not have an exciting relationship. My husband doesn't want a wife who only ever responds to him with "Yes, Dear, whatever you want." It's way more interesting and exciting to have a little bit of discussion and conversation over things. So how does that apply to prayer?
According to Batterson, it's boldness, specificity. Being sure of what we hope for, that's the definition of faith. So, am I sure of what I hope for? Or am I vague and unspecific and, well, boring?
Well, that sums up my Sunday night thoughts. I think I will try to start a weekly Sunday post called Scenic Sunday, because come Monday, it's easy to forget all the things that got me stirred up and inspired the day before. I want to remember the "scenery" that Sunday painted for my life and take that into my week. So here's the first Scenic Sunday post.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Don't Miss Out on Ice-Cream!
Just some late night thoughts... I should really be asleep, but I'm having that sleeping-children, quiet-house random inspiration moment.
If you think about the best moments of your life, those times when everything worked out so perfectly and you felt blessed beyond your imagination...can you honestly say that it was because you orchestrated everything so well? I think that truthfully, some of the best times in our lives happen in very unplanned, unorganized, unexpected ways.
Why then do we constantly try to tell (or politely ask) God about our future wishes? So far, everything awesome and good that has happened to me has totally been by the hand of God. Therefore, I would rather let Him do His thing. Yet, we all fall into that habit of thinking we can actually create the best plan for our future. We even pray about our specific ideas of how things should happen...as if God needs help. :) Hey, He is our loving Father and loves to hear our hearts. But in the end, I think He also loves to hear "Your will be done" because then He can really go all out! Like when my 3-year-old begs and pleads to be done with dinner and go play, but he doesn't know there's ice-cream waiting in the freezer. If he is so bent on his way, I might let him do it. But then he will totally miss out. That's just sad, isn't it?
Don't miss out on the ice-cream! :)
If you think about the best moments of your life, those times when everything worked out so perfectly and you felt blessed beyond your imagination...can you honestly say that it was because you orchestrated everything so well? I think that truthfully, some of the best times in our lives happen in very unplanned, unorganized, unexpected ways.
Why then do we constantly try to tell (or politely ask) God about our future wishes? So far, everything awesome and good that has happened to me has totally been by the hand of God. Therefore, I would rather let Him do His thing. Yet, we all fall into that habit of thinking we can actually create the best plan for our future. We even pray about our specific ideas of how things should happen...as if God needs help. :) Hey, He is our loving Father and loves to hear our hearts. But in the end, I think He also loves to hear "Your will be done" because then He can really go all out! Like when my 3-year-old begs and pleads to be done with dinner and go play, but he doesn't know there's ice-cream waiting in the freezer. If he is so bent on his way, I might let him do it. But then he will totally miss out. That's just sad, isn't it?
Don't miss out on the ice-cream! :)
Monday, July 22, 2013
Fruitfulness
At the beginning of this year, I was wrapping my brain around being called things like "Fertile Myrtle". By a midwife. It was an unexpected, very quick pregnancy, since I found out almost halfway through! (Yes, that's possible.) Before I knew it, I had three kids under three years old...and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that!
But that's not the kind of "fruitfulness" I want to talk about. With this new chapter in life I have also encountered a strong struggle with the things that flow out of me, things like the fruit of the Spirit. I'm talking about Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law."
Some days it seems like I'm praying for peace all day long. Other days it feels like my suffering is long but I don't really have longsuffering (endurance, patience...). Still other days kindness and gentleness are no where to be found in my emotions. I have always thought that we should be working hard to achieve these things in our lives. I've even considered focusing on one of these every week to try to make each of them more of a habit in my life. That may not be a bad idea, but just recently I realized something that I think is significant: you can't make fruit.
Really. You can't. Nobody sits down and says "I'm going to make an apple today". But you can plant a seed and care for it. And when it grows into a little plant, you can tend it until it grows into a big tree and produces apples. The fruit of that tree (and plant, and seed) is apple. Well, that verse said that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, etc. Therefore what is it that needs tending and careful attention? The Spirit. So all those things I desire to see being produced in me should come naturally out of the time and attention I give to connecting with the Spirit of God, with the one Jesus described as our "helper" and "teacher" (John 14:26). Boy, I could use some help some days...actually, lots of help!
This is just something I've been chewing on for a while. It's kind of freeing to realize that all I have to do is constantly run to the Lord, and then the woman he made me to be will naturally be. I don't need to strive and try to make things happen in my life on my own.
But that's not the kind of "fruitfulness" I want to talk about. With this new chapter in life I have also encountered a strong struggle with the things that flow out of me, things like the fruit of the Spirit. I'm talking about Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law."
Some days it seems like I'm praying for peace all day long. Other days it feels like my suffering is long but I don't really have longsuffering (endurance, patience...). Still other days kindness and gentleness are no where to be found in my emotions. I have always thought that we should be working hard to achieve these things in our lives. I've even considered focusing on one of these every week to try to make each of them more of a habit in my life. That may not be a bad idea, but just recently I realized something that I think is significant: you can't make fruit.
Really. You can't. Nobody sits down and says "I'm going to make an apple today". But you can plant a seed and care for it. And when it grows into a little plant, you can tend it until it grows into a big tree and produces apples. The fruit of that tree (and plant, and seed) is apple. Well, that verse said that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, etc. Therefore what is it that needs tending and careful attention? The Spirit. So all those things I desire to see being produced in me should come naturally out of the time and attention I give to connecting with the Spirit of God, with the one Jesus described as our "helper" and "teacher" (John 14:26). Boy, I could use some help some days...actually, lots of help!
This is just something I've been chewing on for a while. It's kind of freeing to realize that all I have to do is constantly run to the Lord, and then the woman he made me to be will naturally be. I don't need to strive and try to make things happen in my life on my own.
Monday, July 9, 2012
My Plastic Pearls
This morning I filled the last page of a journal. I am a "journaler" and I literally have dozens of them. What for? I don't know, maybe they'll make a book out of them someday. You will find it under the category: highly emotional non-fiction. :) Not really. My journaling mostly consists of my written out conversations with God about life. I take Psalm 62:8 seriously, "Pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." And there is nothing more perfect to do on a cloudy, rainy morning like today with a cup of coffee and a sleeping household.
However, ending a journal is usually no problem for me because putting my pen to the first empty page of a brand new, crisp journal is thrilling. (A little nerdy, perhaps.) I usually just ramble on about nothing at the end of journals, just to use up the last few pages so I can get to the new journal. But this time it was different. No doubt about it, the older you get, the faster time flies, and the harder it is to let go of things! You start to question yourself much more: Did I do enough? Did I enjoy my kids enough? Has the past season made a difference? Did it matter? You would think that the longer you've experienced life and what it's like to trust God, the easier it would be to trust Him in the future. Not necessarily.
I find myself in this place of trust, yet again. When you're younger and figuring life out, everything is an adventure and you don't spend much time looking behind. But when you're surrounded by little adorable blessings called "children" and you're in the thick of this season of mothering, parenting, growing, and changes... It feels like someone's hand is on your back, pushing you forward while you're still looking back trying to figure out what just happened!
But I was reminded this morning of one of my favorite little stories. It's about a little girl who had a string of pearls. They were plastic, but to her, they were the most precious thing she had. She wore them to breakfast, she wore them to school, she wore them in the bathtub and even in bed. They made her feel so lady-like and beautiful, just like her mama. One night, while her daddy was tucking her in bed, he asked if she would give him her pearls. She shook her head, "No, no, no Daddy", with her little hands protectively on her neck. He kissed her goodnight and closed the door. The next night, again, he asked for her pearls. Again she said no, with confusion in her eyes. Several nights, her daddy kept asking and finally she said, "Daddy, why do you want to take my pearls away?" He said, "Baby, I love you and I want the best for you. Can you trust me and give me your pearls?" She didn't understand but she knew her daddy loved her, so with huge tears welling up in her big eyes, she took the necklace off and put it in his hand. With his other hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful string of real pearls! They were so beautiful and elegant. The little girl had never seen a prettier necklace and the joy in her heart and love for her daddy nearly exploded as he fastened the real pearls around her little neck.
Trusting God is a choice we have to make over and over, and it doesn't always get easier. It's not usually a decision accompanied by laughter and dancing. It's a firm determination to let God be God. But not in a far-off manner; in a close, loving Daddy way.
However, ending a journal is usually no problem for me because putting my pen to the first empty page of a brand new, crisp journal is thrilling. (A little nerdy, perhaps.) I usually just ramble on about nothing at the end of journals, just to use up the last few pages so I can get to the new journal. But this time it was different. No doubt about it, the older you get, the faster time flies, and the harder it is to let go of things! You start to question yourself much more: Did I do enough? Did I enjoy my kids enough? Has the past season made a difference? Did it matter? You would think that the longer you've experienced life and what it's like to trust God, the easier it would be to trust Him in the future. Not necessarily.
I find myself in this place of trust, yet again. When you're younger and figuring life out, everything is an adventure and you don't spend much time looking behind. But when you're surrounded by little adorable blessings called "children" and you're in the thick of this season of mothering, parenting, growing, and changes... It feels like someone's hand is on your back, pushing you forward while you're still looking back trying to figure out what just happened!
But I was reminded this morning of one of my favorite little stories. It's about a little girl who had a string of pearls. They were plastic, but to her, they were the most precious thing she had. She wore them to breakfast, she wore them to school, she wore them in the bathtub and even in bed. They made her feel so lady-like and beautiful, just like her mama. One night, while her daddy was tucking her in bed, he asked if she would give him her pearls. She shook her head, "No, no, no Daddy", with her little hands protectively on her neck. He kissed her goodnight and closed the door. The next night, again, he asked for her pearls. Again she said no, with confusion in her eyes. Several nights, her daddy kept asking and finally she said, "Daddy, why do you want to take my pearls away?" He said, "Baby, I love you and I want the best for you. Can you trust me and give me your pearls?" She didn't understand but she knew her daddy loved her, so with huge tears welling up in her big eyes, she took the necklace off and put it in his hand. With his other hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful string of real pearls! They were so beautiful and elegant. The little girl had never seen a prettier necklace and the joy in her heart and love for her daddy nearly exploded as he fastened the real pearls around her little neck.
Trusting God is a choice we have to make over and over, and it doesn't always get easier. It's not usually a decision accompanied by laughter and dancing. It's a firm determination to let God be God. But not in a far-off manner; in a close, loving Daddy way.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
A foolish mom at midnight
Yes I know, I should be sleeping. Being up this late and trying to wake up at 6:30 in the morning (see previous post) is not a good combination. But sometimes you risk those things for the sheer pleasure of enjoying a quiet sleeping household. My mother always said silence is golden. Now I understand.
So how are my early mornings going? Well, honestly, some are earlier than others. And sometimes it's only 5 minutes before one or both little people wake up. But other times I have enjoyed a good solid half hour or so of quiet, reading, journaling and prayer! But whether 5 minutes or 30, those moments have been invaluable. Not only because I feel so refreshed, but because some of what I gain in those minutes stays with me all throughout the day. For some reason starting the day out like that makes me think about God and prayer more often during the day...especially during times when I feel like my patience it about to explode.
I also started reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. I've been intending to read it for about a year now and I finally got it from the library...wow! Every wife needs to read it! It has been so good. There are 30 short chapters about 30 different areas of a husband's life to pray over, so I try to read one chapter every morning and pray about that throughout the day. The most amazing thing, I think, is that although I'm praying for my husband, I feel myself being changed! What a difference it makes to be more intentional about speaking to God...and trying harder to listen to Him. Today a dear friend gave me the book for my birthday, so I'm so excited to be able to underline and write things in it tomorrow morning!
But before you get any ideas of how perfect and peaceful my life must be, let me tell you, it has been a tough week with the kids. They haven't been exceptionally difficult, just constantly on the edge, you know? It's been Mr. Whiny and Miss Crabby for a lot of the week and there are definitely moments when I am sure I cannot possibly be patient one more second! But in between those moments, there are so many other moments that melt my heart. I'm so thankful God gave each mom the ability to perceive her own kids as the cutest ones on the planet...that definitely helps when they are being difficult!
By the way, does anyone have any suggestions or cures for whining?
Ok, definitely bedtime now.
So how are my early mornings going? Well, honestly, some are earlier than others. And sometimes it's only 5 minutes before one or both little people wake up. But other times I have enjoyed a good solid half hour or so of quiet, reading, journaling and prayer! But whether 5 minutes or 30, those moments have been invaluable. Not only because I feel so refreshed, but because some of what I gain in those minutes stays with me all throughout the day. For some reason starting the day out like that makes me think about God and prayer more often during the day...especially during times when I feel like my patience it about to explode.
I also started reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. I've been intending to read it for about a year now and I finally got it from the library...wow! Every wife needs to read it! It has been so good. There are 30 short chapters about 30 different areas of a husband's life to pray over, so I try to read one chapter every morning and pray about that throughout the day. The most amazing thing, I think, is that although I'm praying for my husband, I feel myself being changed! What a difference it makes to be more intentional about speaking to God...and trying harder to listen to Him. Today a dear friend gave me the book for my birthday, so I'm so excited to be able to underline and write things in it tomorrow morning!
But before you get any ideas of how perfect and peaceful my life must be, let me tell you, it has been a tough week with the kids. They haven't been exceptionally difficult, just constantly on the edge, you know? It's been Mr. Whiny and Miss Crabby for a lot of the week and there are definitely moments when I am sure I cannot possibly be patient one more second! But in between those moments, there are so many other moments that melt my heart. I'm so thankful God gave each mom the ability to perceive her own kids as the cutest ones on the planet...that definitely helps when they are being difficult!
By the way, does anyone have any suggestions or cures for whining?
Ok, definitely bedtime now.
Monday, April 23, 2012
6:30 a.m. & coffee
Someone please tell me, can "mom" and "quiet time" even go in the same sentence? Maybe "quiet two minutes"!
Seriously, the only time I could possibly have any quiet time alone would be before everyone is up in the morning, including the sun! And I'm just not willing to do that.... wait, what did I just say? Oh well, it would be so legalistic to make this poor tired mama get up that early...of course nobody would expect me to do that! Right?
But I'll be exhausted, crabby and even more coffee-addicted. And it will be so hard to stick to it and then I'll feel guilty. And that's legalistic.
Making a difference in my own life and the lives around me is what I want to do, and who said it was easy? I think I can trust God enough with my tiredness and...well, everything.
So 6:30 a.m. & coffee it is. God knows I'm not a morning person, so I need all the help and motivation I can get (like the accountability that putting this out there will hopefully give me).
Any moms out there have any secrets to making time to spend with God? In case I need to adjust my current plan. :)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Did you take something for it?
You can be sure that anytime I say to my husband, "I have a headache", he will ask "Did you take something for it?" Not only is he a guy, bent on "fixing" things, but he is also a nurse. So "Aw, poor Sweetie, come sit down and let me rub your head" isn't the first thing that comes to his mind. This goes into the issue of me expecting him to read my mind...but that's another subject. :) But of course, I know that rubbing my head most likely isn't going to get rid of my headache. It feels good and I'll like the attention, but it doesn't solve the problem.
This scenario has been going through my mind a lot lately because it has helped me remember to take on my husband's attitude when I face those days...you know, the days when nothing goes as planned, the kids won't stop crying, you burn the food, you run out of clean clothes, and the phone wont stop ringing. Or even just days when you wake up exhausted and everything that gets between you and coffee is at risk of extinction.
I've started asking myself, "Did you take something for it?" And what I mean by that is, do I just want to complain or am I going to do something about it? Am I going to dwell on my negative feelings or am I going to "take captive every thought" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and be willing to change?
When I'm in the middle of feeling overwhelmed or crabby, it's hard to think of just snapping out of it and suddenly changing my mood. Truth is, as any mom of young ones would know, I probably just need a full 24-hour nap and then I'd be the most cheerful person on earth! But that's not going to happen, so instead of ruining the day with crabbiness, I've tried to become intentional about "taking something for it" by doing two things:
#1 Change the atmosphere of my home. As a stay-at-home mom, I feel like I'm the guardian of what comes into my home, specially in the way of media. For example, I love listening to fun jazz; nothing wrong with that. But I've noticed quite a difference when I choose to play worship music throughout the day instead. Without even realizing, words of praise to God are flowing through my head...even as I'm falling asleep at night! It truly changes the atmosphere to a little more peace, a little more patience and grace. What kind of noise is coming from your TV, iPod or radio? What messages is it filling your home with?
#2 Change my perspective in certain situations where I have the tendency to become irritated or impatient. So my nearly two-year-old dumped all his toys right after I cleaned them up? Sometimes it may be a disobedience issue...but sometimes, maybe it's time for Mom to pause the to-do list and get on the floor to play for a while. So people dropped-in unexpectedly or I have to be somewhere and haven't had a chance to shower yet? Well, this is what I really, really look like and thank God for a loving husband and for deodorant!
As dorky as this sounds, I've been thinking "Pollyanna-style" a lot. Things are never perfect and often not even close to what we wish, but what is there to be "glad" or thankful about? I'd rather dwell on that and let it put a smile on my face.
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8
This scenario has been going through my mind a lot lately because it has helped me remember to take on my husband's attitude when I face those days...you know, the days when nothing goes as planned, the kids won't stop crying, you burn the food, you run out of clean clothes, and the phone wont stop ringing. Or even just days when you wake up exhausted and everything that gets between you and coffee is at risk of extinction.
I've started asking myself, "Did you take something for it?" And what I mean by that is, do I just want to complain or am I going to do something about it? Am I going to dwell on my negative feelings or am I going to "take captive every thought" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and be willing to change?
When I'm in the middle of feeling overwhelmed or crabby, it's hard to think of just snapping out of it and suddenly changing my mood. Truth is, as any mom of young ones would know, I probably just need a full 24-hour nap and then I'd be the most cheerful person on earth! But that's not going to happen, so instead of ruining the day with crabbiness, I've tried to become intentional about "taking something for it" by doing two things:
#1 Change the atmosphere of my home. As a stay-at-home mom, I feel like I'm the guardian of what comes into my home, specially in the way of media. For example, I love listening to fun jazz; nothing wrong with that. But I've noticed quite a difference when I choose to play worship music throughout the day instead. Without even realizing, words of praise to God are flowing through my head...even as I'm falling asleep at night! It truly changes the atmosphere to a little more peace, a little more patience and grace. What kind of noise is coming from your TV, iPod or radio? What messages is it filling your home with?
#2 Change my perspective in certain situations where I have the tendency to become irritated or impatient. So my nearly two-year-old dumped all his toys right after I cleaned them up? Sometimes it may be a disobedience issue...but sometimes, maybe it's time for Mom to pause the to-do list and get on the floor to play for a while. So people dropped-in unexpectedly or I have to be somewhere and haven't had a chance to shower yet? Well, this is what I really, really look like and thank God for a loving husband and for deodorant!
As dorky as this sounds, I've been thinking "Pollyanna-style" a lot. Things are never perfect and often not even close to what we wish, but what is there to be "glad" or thankful about? I'd rather dwell on that and let it put a smile on my face.
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Selfless Challenge
"Not everything we study in the Bible has to be 'about me'"
...from a Beth Moore Bible study I attended yesterday...what an inspiring woman. How many times do we skip over parts of the Bible just because we don't see an immediate application to our lives? How self-centered! There is a larger picture and life is more than just about me. Hello? I'm challenged to change. :)
...from a Beth Moore Bible study I attended yesterday...what an inspiring woman. How many times do we skip over parts of the Bible just because we don't see an immediate application to our lives? How self-centered! There is a larger picture and life is more than just about me. Hello? I'm challenged to change. :)
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Woman Who Cried "Baby!"
I always thought women who had "false labor" were unexperienced or maybe over-anxious and exaggerated. Well, after a couple nights in a row of "false labor" last week, I now know that it's very real and very confusing! I went through the pain and excitement, scribbling the minutes between contractions on scrap paper at 4 in the morning, going through the list in my head of everything I need to have ready for the hospital... and then sometime close to sun-up, everything slowed down and eventually I fell asleep and woke up later feeling fine. All I could think is that it was totally unfair. But even worse, I felt like the boy who cried "wolf". Did I imagine it? Did I exaggerate? I've already had one child, how can I mistake this? I hated telling everyone it was a false alarm.
Soon we had to go back to life as normal. I am trying to focus on my little boy and on endless nesting projects. My husband is back in his regular work routine, but he is always asking me if I've had contractions. I'm trying not to think about it, but I'm really thinking about it all the time. I often feel like if I could lump all the major lessons in my life into one theme, it would be TRUST. Trusting God. Maybe everyone could say that just because it really affects every area of life. Well, for me it does.
So once again, letting go, letting God. Trusting He knows the best timing and the best way and acknowledging that in the end, since He knows everything and loves me so much, I'd rather let Him orchestrate it all anyway. It doesn't keep me from giving Him suggestions throughout the day about my ideas of good timing though. :)
What a loving, patient and gentle Father.
Soon we had to go back to life as normal. I am trying to focus on my little boy and on endless nesting projects. My husband is back in his regular work routine, but he is always asking me if I've had contractions. I'm trying not to think about it, but I'm really thinking about it all the time. I often feel like if I could lump all the major lessons in my life into one theme, it would be TRUST. Trusting God. Maybe everyone could say that just because it really affects every area of life. Well, for me it does.
So once again, letting go, letting God. Trusting He knows the best timing and the best way and acknowledging that in the end, since He knows everything and loves me so much, I'd rather let Him orchestrate it all anyway. It doesn't keep me from giving Him suggestions throughout the day about my ideas of good timing though. :)
What a loving, patient and gentle Father.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Some Thanksgiving Thoughts
It's been a while but today will just be a quick note on gratitude and giving. It's interesting to me that in these last two months of the year, when two of the biggest celebrations of the year occur, the purpose is meant to be gratitude and giving. Yet it has also become equally (or more) a season for getting. Personally, in the recent spirit of Thanksgiving, I've grown more and more thankful for simplicity in life and the sweetness of cherishing a few valuable things. On the top of the list, of course, is my precious family: my loving, sacrificing, God-fearing and super handsome husband; my irresistibly cute little boy; and the energetic little girl who we will meet in a couple months! And then there are our immediate and extended families and friends... But I've also been thinking of the things I don't see. For example, I've been thinking about getting a double-stroller since we will soon have two little ones, and I suddenly realized I have no clue what strollers cost because we never had to buy one for our first child! It was given to us. That and so many other things that fill our lives have been totally unexpected blessings that I usually fail to really be thankful for. I so easily notice what we lack and I complain when something breaks or needs to be paid for when we least expected. But I don't see the times God has moved on our behalf to bless us or save us from danger. All the times He has provided way beyond what we could have done for ourselves.
All this undeserved love and blessing in my life makes me so thankful and so eager to bless as well.
Coming soon (I hope) I'll be blogging a lot about tips, resources and inspiration to be a stay-at-home mom. I've been learning so much about that lately and I can't wait to share so many things that have energized and inspired me! Now I've said it, so now I better do it soon. :)
All this undeserved love and blessing in my life makes me so thankful and so eager to bless as well.
Coming soon (I hope) I'll be blogging a lot about tips, resources and inspiration to be a stay-at-home mom. I've been learning so much about that lately and I can't wait to share so many things that have energized and inspired me! Now I've said it, so now I better do it soon. :)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Curiosity
I've been pondering a couple questions I heard recently because they are quite deep and I like deep things:
I'm curious to see what it will be like to have a little girl around... to have two kids around! I'm curious to see how I'm going to ever take a shower again after said second child comes along! I'm curious to see what our path looks like around the bend, because I feel there's a bend coming. I'm curious about how God will provide resources, opportunities, blessings as we possibly embark into the life of a med-school-student family. I'm curious about what our family life will be like....most of all I'm curious about how God will teach me to be the wife and mom I'm supposed to be when I have never seen this (medical) lifestyle exemplified first hand.
Curiosity, however, doesn't have to be a lack of faith. It's actually the best type of faith...like a child; an expectancy of all the awesome things God will show us and take us through. At this point, I have no idea how it will all unfold, but I'm confident that He has it all planned out. And it is a huge step of faith for a planner-list-maker like me to put down my calendar and my pen and let Someone else make our plans... specially when they are not in the habit of letting you know what the plan is! :)
This is why life is an adventure and we would be bored if it wasn't.
How did God show up for you this past Summer?
and
What words are defining this Fall season for you?
The answer to the first question is way too long because Summer was way too busy and long...so I have to think about that a little more to come up with a specific answer. But for the second one, I'd have to say that one of the main words that immediately comes to mind is curiosity. I know, it's not the deepest answer I could come up with, but it's how I currently feel. I'm curious to see what it will be like to have a little girl around... to have two kids around! I'm curious to see how I'm going to ever take a shower again after said second child comes along! I'm curious to see what our path looks like around the bend, because I feel there's a bend coming. I'm curious about how God will provide resources, opportunities, blessings as we possibly embark into the life of a med-school-student family. I'm curious about what our family life will be like....most of all I'm curious about how God will teach me to be the wife and mom I'm supposed to be when I have never seen this (medical) lifestyle exemplified first hand.
Curiosity, however, doesn't have to be a lack of faith. It's actually the best type of faith...like a child; an expectancy of all the awesome things God will show us and take us through. At this point, I have no idea how it will all unfold, but I'm confident that He has it all planned out. And it is a huge step of faith for a planner-list-maker like me to put down my calendar and my pen and let Someone else make our plans... specially when they are not in the habit of letting you know what the plan is! :)
This is why life is an adventure and we would be bored if it wasn't.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Yes, I'm A Stay-At-Home Mom
Once you've had a child, there is no question about the importance and significance of your role as a mother. You give your all to your kids and you know it's worth it. But every now and then a little nagging feeling creeps up...what about you? what about the talents and dreams you had? did you accomplish everything you were supposed to before this? did you miss something along the way that you will never get back?
Maybe not all moms have these feelings. I know women who wanted to "be a mommy" since they were three years old. But I get these feeling sometimes. It's usually when I start listening to the voices around me that suggest that changing diapers, hanging clothes on the line and cooking from scratch is not good enough. Don't you work? Don't you get bored? Don't you do anything else?
Well, not only do I work 24/7, but I have the most important job in the world: raising and influencing my God-loving world-changing children, and creating an inspiring haven for my husband to rest and be energized for what God has called us to accomplish together.
As far as myself...I realized recently that for some reason it's so much easier to listen to all the negative voices instead of hearing what my amazing Father says about me and believing it! I need to have His words in my mind and heart, so this is what I've started doing: personalizing what God says about me in the Word. This is what I read today (maybe you can read it about yourself and be encouraged):
"...to bestow on her a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. She will be called an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Instead of her shame, she will receive a double portion...and everlasting joy will be hers. In my faithfulness i will reward her and make an everlasting covenant with her...all who see her will acknowledge that she is a woman the Lord has blessed." (From Isaiah 61, paraphrased)
Yep, that's me and you! He said it! Now live like it and see the difference!
Maybe not all moms have these feelings. I know women who wanted to "be a mommy" since they were three years old. But I get these feeling sometimes. It's usually when I start listening to the voices around me that suggest that changing diapers, hanging clothes on the line and cooking from scratch is not good enough. Don't you work? Don't you get bored? Don't you do anything else?
Well, not only do I work 24/7, but I have the most important job in the world: raising and influencing my God-loving world-changing children, and creating an inspiring haven for my husband to rest and be energized for what God has called us to accomplish together.
As far as myself...I realized recently that for some reason it's so much easier to listen to all the negative voices instead of hearing what my amazing Father says about me and believing it! I need to have His words in my mind and heart, so this is what I've started doing: personalizing what God says about me in the Word. This is what I read today (maybe you can read it about yourself and be encouraged):
"...to bestow on her a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. She will be called an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Instead of her shame, she will receive a double portion...and everlasting joy will be hers. In my faithfulness i will reward her and make an everlasting covenant with her...all who see her will acknowledge that she is a woman the Lord has blessed." (From Isaiah 61, paraphrased)
Yep, that's me and you! He said it! Now live like it and see the difference!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The best kind of multi-tasking
I want to encourage all wives and moms to take advantage of Your Family Live webcasts by Focus on the Family! It airs live every wednesday, but you can watch any previous webcast anytime online. Go to www.focusonlinecommunities.com and click on the Your Family Live link on the left-hand column. You will see links on the left to watch webcasts done in the past three years on all kinds of family-related matters!
Why is this the best kind of multi-tasking? Because it's the perfect way to refresh yourself with encouraging messages and even laughter while you do those tedious chores like folding laundry or washing dishes. We all know some days it's hard to get any quiet or devotional time as a mom. This morning I think I was able to read about five verses in the Bible before I had to clean up yet another messy disaster, and all that with Thomas the Train in the background...not the most spiritually inspiring moment. But during nap time, I turned on a webcast that I hadn't seen and attacked my mountain of unfolded laundry while being encouraged on how to be a better wife and how to love my husband the way he needs me to. Now I can go on with my day with challenging, uplifting thoughts in my head!
So put a sticky note somewhere to remind yourself every now and then to watch or listen to something that will actually encourage and bless your spiritually and practically. You'll love it!
Why is this the best kind of multi-tasking? Because it's the perfect way to refresh yourself with encouraging messages and even laughter while you do those tedious chores like folding laundry or washing dishes. We all know some days it's hard to get any quiet or devotional time as a mom. This morning I think I was able to read about five verses in the Bible before I had to clean up yet another messy disaster, and all that with Thomas the Train in the background...not the most spiritually inspiring moment. But during nap time, I turned on a webcast that I hadn't seen and attacked my mountain of unfolded laundry while being encouraged on how to be a better wife and how to love my husband the way he needs me to. Now I can go on with my day with challenging, uplifting thoughts in my head!
So put a sticky note somewhere to remind yourself every now and then to watch or listen to something that will actually encourage and bless your spiritually and practically. You'll love it!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Complete!
As we drove to church on Resurrection Sunday, I thought to myself how glad I was to not be a pastor and have to come up with a fresh new Easter message every year. But then, of course, I re-winded my thoughts and remembered what an awesome God we serve who does indeed have something fresh for us, not just every year, but every day!
One of the fresh thoughts that I encountered this Easter had to do with completion. There are many things in life that make us feel complete....
When I was a child, some cruel dentist once pulled 6 of my teeth in one sitting! I'm sure she had a good reason, but to this day I really dislike going to the dentist. After that awful experience, however, my mother took me straight to the toy store and bought me the biggest, prettiest doll I had ever seen! Suddenly I felt complete!
Then many years later I met "the guy" and endured years of agony (note: slight bit of exaggeration) while God took his time communicating to my parents that this was indeed "the right guy". The day finally came when I walked down the aisle and we said our vows and...I was complete! After only a few months I thought, "I can't even remember what life was like before this!"
A couple years after that, my life became more complete than ever before through the arrival of the sweetest little boy the world has ever seen (note: huge biased opinion). I'm so complete now, that I could never go back. I'm so changed and complete by this little life, that I no longer care about so many things I used to...at least not as much. For example, make-up. I confess that a couple years back I would not dare step foot out of my front door without make-up on my face. Now, there are many days that I'll realize, as we are on our way somewhere, that I haven't even looked in the mirror! And it's perfectly fine because I have a husband and son that adore who I am and love me for me.
Make-up is a pretty trivial thing to bring up in the context of Jesus' death and resurrection, I know. But when Jesus said, "It is finished", that meant his goal, his work, his dream for you and I was completed. His ultimate sacrifice and powerful resurrection provided for us the gift of wholeness of life in Him, the reality of a relationship with Him where nothing is lacking because He has it all and He gave it all for you and I. My desire is for this truth to invade my life in such a way that from make-up to relationships to character, I will be able to walk in the confidence of His completed work for me. There is no room for the lies of insecurity or selfishness when such a love has been given and received!
One of the fresh thoughts that I encountered this Easter had to do with completion. There are many things in life that make us feel complete....
When I was a child, some cruel dentist once pulled 6 of my teeth in one sitting! I'm sure she had a good reason, but to this day I really dislike going to the dentist. After that awful experience, however, my mother took me straight to the toy store and bought me the biggest, prettiest doll I had ever seen! Suddenly I felt complete!
Then many years later I met "the guy" and endured years of agony (note: slight bit of exaggeration) while God took his time communicating to my parents that this was indeed "the right guy". The day finally came when I walked down the aisle and we said our vows and...I was complete! After only a few months I thought, "I can't even remember what life was like before this!"
A couple years after that, my life became more complete than ever before through the arrival of the sweetest little boy the world has ever seen (note: huge biased opinion). I'm so complete now, that I could never go back. I'm so changed and complete by this little life, that I no longer care about so many things I used to...at least not as much. For example, make-up. I confess that a couple years back I would not dare step foot out of my front door without make-up on my face. Now, there are many days that I'll realize, as we are on our way somewhere, that I haven't even looked in the mirror! And it's perfectly fine because I have a husband and son that adore who I am and love me for me.
Make-up is a pretty trivial thing to bring up in the context of Jesus' death and resurrection, I know. But when Jesus said, "It is finished", that meant his goal, his work, his dream for you and I was completed. His ultimate sacrifice and powerful resurrection provided for us the gift of wholeness of life in Him, the reality of a relationship with Him where nothing is lacking because He has it all and He gave it all for you and I. My desire is for this truth to invade my life in such a way that from make-up to relationships to character, I will be able to walk in the confidence of His completed work for me. There is no room for the lies of insecurity or selfishness when such a love has been given and received!
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