A funny to start the week...

I couldn't resist this one, either.   I feel like this in so many areas of my life, but I've just learned to laugh off the situations (most of the time) or else I would be constantly discouraged.....

What is your "kill me moment"?

Is there any other Momma out there that's done this??

I saw this and immediately knew it was made for/about me.   My children saw it and laughed.   Some even said...."THAT'S YOU, MOM!!"     I'll let the cartoon speak for itself.....

So, be honest.....has any other Momma done this??   I know some of you have, so 'fess up!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Another beautiful Mother's Day.   I know, I know.   I say I don't really like Mother's Day because I don't want my family to FEEL like they have to do something today because that's what someone decided would be the official Mother's Day on the calendar.   However, I must say that my family really does make me feel blessed all the time, so I do know that these special things they have done come from their hearts and not a sense of obligation to the "powers that be".   Here is a glimpse of my day.....

I started my day with a cup of coffee fixed just the way I like it.   While I enjoyed "bumming around this morning", I heard lots of noises from the kitchen which resulted in a beautifully prepared brunch - full menu of eggs, bacon, heavenly sweet rolls, lots of fruit, whipped cream all served on china and lots and lots of hot tea!!   We enjoyed a wonderful time of eating, laughing, and visiting as my dear family also invited my mom and my aunt to join us.  Then, I was informed that we were heading into town to go bowling and eat at Rudy's later.   What a day of pure pleasure with those I love the most.  

As I sat here feeling "guilty" as my dear children cleaned up the kitchen I had to think back through the years.  Who would have known that all those years of sleepless nights, hugs and kisses for booboos and hurts, hours of discipline in one form or fashion, and large listening ears- sometimes up into the wee hours of the night listening to hearts being poured out - yes, all those years of just doing what I love doing and feel blessed to be able to do them would result in this kind of treatment.   

I know so many young Mommas who are still in the exhaustion stage, so I decided to write this post in hopes of encouraging them that their day will come.   It may seem so very far away, but it is out there and sadly, it's out there on the horizon, believe it or not.   Trust me, when it does come, you will look back and think that all of the things you did really didn't deserve all the devotion, love, respect, and adoration that you will receive one day.   GOD is so gracious, though, in blessing us a little here and there and then really rewarding us with something more wonderful than we thought possible when we release HIS arrows.   

 

My prayer for you young Mommas right now is that HE would bless you with an abundance of patience mixed with tons of compassion and mercy; wisdom and discernment to know whether to disciple with the rod, the Sword of the Spirit, or the loving arms GOD gave you; the energy to stay one step ahead of them in ALL their actions or the energy to catch up with them and pull or shove them back on track when necessary; the appreciation to know that this time is fleeting and will be over before you know it; but mostly, the moments you have to influence them are so few in the scheme of things, so I pray that you seize every moment to point them to GOD so that you may one day enjoy eternity together.  

As a reminder of the power of influence that we have, not only on our family, but the influence we may one day have on the world is found here.

Enjoy not only the rest of this day, but every precious day you have been given with the blessings GOD has given you!!

Still hanging in there.....

I know I've been silent, which is a surprise to many who know me well......but here is the best way to describe life the last couple of months....back to cleaning for now.....

I do have some posts I've been working on for the future.....so come back and visit again.....

Enjoying the seasons

As my children keep insisting on having birthdays, I have noticed a few things about my feelings as a mother.   It's been so wonderful to see them stretch and grow and pull away a little more from under my wings, and I love having these adult children to visit with and discuss things such as movies and great books we're reading or a passage of Scripture that someone found intriguing.   At the same time, though, my heart aches as I write this because I just never knew that this role GOD gave me was going to fill me so much only to take away those moments little by little as these precious gifts grow up and out.  


It's all a season, I know, but it seems like it's been a shorter season than I originally thought.   I read a friend's blog recently, and as she commented on the daily things she encounters, I was taken back to those same moments - endless piles of diapers, baskets full of baby clothes to be folded and put away, toys scattered here and there, and then the occasional Lego or doll shoe left to trap me in my nightly rendezvous with the nursing baby.  How I thought those days would last forever, and here I am wishing I could just enjoy them one more time.  


Then, I find myself turning to the season I'm in and finding that it was so much better than I dreamed it would be.   Who knew how much pleasure I'd find in hearing my adult children talking about their dreams and plans for the future.   Who knew how much my heart would ache as they share their disappointments and struggles.  Then, once again, relishing in the moment as we laugh and cry and grumble over this character and that plot in whatever book or movie we happen to be enjoying together.  


I wish there was a verse that said, "And the Momma while rise up and call her children blessed because they have brought much joy into her life", but how can you really put into words what I feel right now.....you can't, and that's why HE chose not to, either.   HE is wise enough to know that you need to just wrap your arms around these feelings and treasure them forever!!


When GOD called Peter and John to go out and take on the mission HE gave them, I don't think they realized what joy they would experience as they followed the path   HE laid out for them.   By the same token, I just had no idea the joy I would store up as I answered the call to take on the mission of raising these four arrows HE placed in my care for this short season.   I praise GOD for HIS calling and have never regretted all the earthly things I gave up in order to step UP to this role, and I rejoice each time I read a blog post or hear a young Momma share that she, too, is loving her mission that HE has given her.   

7 Random Things About Myself

In an attempt to get me to post more often, my evil, devious, pesky adorable, sweet, angelic daughter (I had to type this because she's sitting right beside me......) has "tagged" me in a post.   I am to type 7 Random things about myself....to quote Miss Woodhouse in Emma  "Yes, but your problem will be in limiting yourself to only three...(or 7, in my case)"   I will give it a try, and in the hopes of pleasing my dear daughters, I will sincerely strive to post more often....

1)  I type.   Yes, I type ALL the time.   Not just when I'm at the computer, but if I'm sitting listening to a conversation, I find myself "typing out" what is being said.   I do the same thing when I'm watching a movie or even when we're praying.   I know this because my children have often told me after prayer time, "Uhhh, Mom, my hand (or back or arm) is not a keyboard."  

2)  I love butter!!!  I love butter on anything I can think of.  I surprised my own children the other night by suggesting we eat some hot, fresh out of the oven, chocolate cake with butter melted on it!

3)  I am the middle child of three, but I am sadly, the shortest one.   This has always been a sore point with me because when I was a child and my older sister would pick on me, my parents assured me that one day I'd be bigger and could defend myself.....I'm still waiting for that day....

4)  Most people who know me know that I am afraid of snakes....DEATHLY afraid of snakes....    DEATHLY, and I do mean DEATHLY afraid of snakes.   This has been a source of constant entertainment for my family, too.   Not that they ever - EVER- have used this fear against me and scared me with snakes.   To the contrary, they go out of their way to protect me from snakes, snake pictures, snake parts in movies, or anything having to do with snakes.   When they were younger, they even braved the Reptile Hall at the zoo alone because they knew that Momma was not going to go with them.   The source of entertainment is laughing about everything they've done to make sure that I don't come across a snake, and believe me, there are numerous such stories floating around our home.

5)  I love to dance.   I don't always dance at gatherings such as Square dancing and Contra dancing, but I love to dance.   My favorite time is......well, anytime.   If a song has a great beat, I just can't help myself.   I feel my foot start tapping, then my leg goes, and before you know it, I'm just moving around wherever I am.   This might be the kitchen, the living room, the hallway, and yes, even the aisles of Wal-mart (my children abandoned me that trip, so due to peer pressure, I've never done it since!)

6)  I always envisioned myself on Broadway when I was younger.   I wanted to be a great actress and perform on Broadway and live in New York City.   I laugh at that now because I just can't imagine living anywhere except in the country.   It's amazing what GOD can do in our lives when we submit to HIM.

7)  I love to read books and watch movies with different dialects.   Unfortunately, I find myself mimicking those dialects and accents quite easily ( not well, but easily).   So much so, that I did order burgers and fries at a McDonalds once in a cockney English accent as we were listening to a book on tape one trip.   I don't think they knew me, so I didn't sweat it, but ever since, my children will preface their orders with "Please don't order in an accent...."

I'd love to hear a few random things about you, so feel free to leave a comment or two.