Being a Mom: Coming Full Circle

My daughter is always trying to figure out a way to stay up later than she should.

Tonight, she tried a new tactic, "Mom I want to stay up and learn how to be a 

Mommy!" There was a huge smile on her face. Anticipating my answer, she had

such hope in her eyes that this would work. Finally, she had figured out a way to

stay up past her bedtime. 

I answered, "Being a mommy is a lot of work, you don't get to play very much." 

She countered, "I like work," smiling as big as ever. 

Knowing I wouldn't win this debate, I gave her a kiss and a hug and changed 

the subject, but the conversation caused me to remember my childhood.

When I was a child, I used to wonder what I would be like when I was older, 

especially what it would be like to be a mother. For sure, I would be able to 

things my way, which at the time was always the best, most logical way. I 

wondered what my children would be like. I will be lucky if my kids are as 

good as me, I would think. There was never a question if I would meet and 

marry Prince Charming, but just what kind of Prince Charming would he be?

Now I look back over the last few years, and I am overwhelmed with how 

blessed I am. I met and married my Prince Charming, otherwise known 

as Jason, or occasionally as "Snack Attack," and I have two adorable and

intelligent children, who are a lot like me. Little did I know when I was younger

what kind of a kid I was. 

Although I was fairly well behaved, I had a will as strong as iron. If I decided 

something should be one way, well that's the way it was going to be. My poor 

mom. I now understand the effort that goes into guiding your child in the ways 

of the Lord, trusting the Him to help me temper the strong wills without breaking 

them. For that quality is a gift from God, that if used properly, can be a huge asset. 

I am thankful to my mom for directing and guiding my stubbornness, my impossible 

strong will. I hope and pray I can do as good of a job with my own children. 

As that small child so long ago, I could never have imagined my life would

be as good as it is now. No, my life isn't perfect. There are difficulties to overcome, 

and financial stresses to endure, and strong wills to direct, but God is good. 

My life is good, challenging at times, but so good. On this Mother's Day, I am 

reflecting on all God has given me, and it is all good! Happy Mother's Day!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" Ephesians 1:3, ESV

A Moment with Chocolate?

This week has definitely been a challenge so far. My daughter and I both
have the coxsackie virus, which sounds worse than it is. We both have blisters
in our throats, which are not comfortable, but feel pretty okay overall. The bummer
is that it is highly contagious, so we are stuck in the house for 7 - 10 days. No 
preschool for her, no work for me (work with babies), no playgrounds, no church
for Easter Sunday, no seeing our families this weekend. Not fair!! Today is day 
three of quarantine, and I'm feeling the effects.


Yesterday, I called my husband at work and jokingly, but really more seriously, 
told him I would need chocolate to survive this week. He was sure to pick up 
a bag of Dove dark chocolate bites for me. Yes! Thank you, wonderful man I 
married. It wouldn't be so difficult if both the kids were sick. Then they could
swap germs as much as they wanted, and it'd be okay. Keeping a three year
from touching her mouth every other moment is like keeping a curious child 
from pushing a mysterious button.


Do you find yourself relying on a little something when stressed? Mine is 
definitely chocolate, a moment of peace. I love it, but I wonder if instead of 
having a morsel of  bliss, I should be saying a quick prayer of, "Lord, help me de-stress." Okay, I don't wonder, I know. This morning, amidst a bit of chaos, my toddler walked
over to the radio and turned it on. It is set to our local Christian station, Joy FM.
Within minutes I felt the stress melting away. It was a great reminder, like
God was saying, "Remember I'm here to help you." Yes, even with the day to 
day stuff, He is here for us. 


Earlier in the week I was reading Psalm 23, which is many times read at 
funerals. I think it is intended much more for the living. He is there for us in the 
dark times, the happy times, the menial times, the stressful times, the 
peaceful times. He brings peace to our chaos, external and internal. 
Read Psalm 23 and think of difficulties you are going through. Give them 
to Him and find the peace you've been seeking, your moment with chocolate. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

     He leads me in paths of righteousness

 for his name’s sake.

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Mamma on a Mission

This evening I was all ready to go to work, then I received a call I had been canceled. 
An occasional hazard of being a nurse, not enough patients on the floor, and you don't
get to work. I usually work weekends to avoid this and usually it works. Thursdays are 
also especially busy I have found. I work on a postpartum ward, and it seems the most deliveries tend to be on Thursdays, so naturally I was shocked. That's okay, I thought to myself, There is plenty around the house for me to do. I looked forward to accomplishing 
a couple of things that needed to be done. 


There was a pile of laundry on our bed that needed to be folded and put away, my 
dresser looked like a waterfall of clothing, an area in the basement needed to be 
cleared so my parents can store a few things (don't get me started on the condition of 
my basement), and the van needed to be tidied to help my mom move some things in 
the morning. On top of all these things that needed to be done, my left knee is in serious 
pain, and I have a certain monthly nuisance visiting me at the moment. Need I say more? Basically, "Watch out! Don't get in the way of the crazed, hormonal lady!" 


My husband seemed less than enthusiastic about it all (I was unaware of how truly
exhausted he was from the week). So, stuff needed to get done, and it had not been
possible to get it done during the day amidst meltdowns and toddler adventures. 
I was a bit frustrated with my second half and let him know it by being less than 
warm. I was torn with being frustrated with him and frustrated with myself. I definitely 
wasn't walking in love. I wasn't being patient or kind or slow to anger. I was thinking 
of myself and my goals, and although, yes it all needed to be done, I could have been 
more gracious. Oh, why can't I just be perfect?! Since we'll only be perfect once 
we're in Heaven with Jesus, I guess I'll have to deal with these imperfections in 
myself for a while longer. 


Kids laundry is folded and put away, waterfall has vanished from my dresser, 
basement section is cleared and swept for some guest crates, didn't get to the 
van, but that's okay, and I have some apologizing to do. I thought I prayed for 
some grace in the middle of it all, but since I don't really remember, It must not 
have been heartfelt. Note to self,next time I find myself in a frustrating situation, 
focus on the "plank" in my eye, not the speck in my neighbor's (in this case 
spouse's) eye. Ouch. Do I really want to post this? Lord, thank you for the lesson 
in humility. 


But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6, ESV


“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1 - 5, ESV