Are You Invisible?

I've talked with several Mother's recently about the "busy season" of Motherhood. There's so much to do! Sometimes we get so busy that we may fall prey to numerous temptations. Feeling sorry for ourselves, forgetting to take time for ourselves, forgetting our motivation for doing all the things we do as wives and Mothers.

I recently encountered a person who thought the sacrificing I am doing for my family and our traditional ways may be a problem. She expressed concern that I could fall into "losing myself" by not taking time for myself by shopping alone, pampering myself and getting away as much as she does as a single mother. Right now those are luxuries that I think are wonderful but are not always practical on a regular basis. I have priorities and they outrank some of the luxuries I enjoyed before having a family or at least their frequency. Don't get me wrong, I think there is a time and place for every woman to be pampered. Let's just remember our priorities and why we do what we do. We may feel invisible at times, but it will all be worth it as it blesses our family and glorifies our God.

For those of you who can relate, you may benefit from the this short video as much as I did.Thank you to my friend who shared it with me after the encounter I mentioned.

Keep up the good work you are doing in the lives of those in your family!

Are you a "True Woman?"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_john2005/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Revive our Hearts is a radio program that I love to turn to for encouragement as a wife and Mother. They are asking, "What is a True Woman?" To find the answer and join me in finding encouragement in biblical womanhood please check out the website. You can listen to the program from the site and find messages on nearly every subject relating to a woman's life. I am taking their 30 day challenge on discovering and embracing God's design for your life. Sound interesting? Check it out for yourself!
http://www.truewoman.com/

Wanting Wisdom?

I read from Proverbs 2 this morning. How often I ask God for wisdom in the midst of life's trials. He gives instructions right here on how to find it! My NIV Study Bible
explains it like this...

First: We must trust and honor God.
Second: We must realize that the Bible reveals God's wisdom to us.
Third: We must make a lifelong series of right choices and avoid moral pitfalls.
Fourth: When we make sinful or mistaken choices, we must learn from our errors
and recover.
We can pray for all aspects of wisdom AND take the steps to develop them in our lives.

May God bless us with wisdom as we seek him and accept the gift of his word that reveals it. That makes me excited to read his word!

If you would like more of God's wisdom, take a "Mom moment" and read Proverbs 2.

Lists For Lorrie

1. FIVE things under $5 that I couldn't live without

-Silk Chocolate Soy Milk
-Oxi Clean stain remover
-Email-so glad it's free!
-Disposable diapers (I'm with you Lorrie!)
-Iced Sweet Tea (love the nurses/housekeeper I work with who make it every shift!)

2. FIVE favorite movies

-The Note Book
-The Sixth Sense
-13 Going on 30
-Pure Country
-It's a Wonderful Life
(Chic Flicks & Love stories rate high and occasional comedies)

3. FIVE baby names I love

- the ones parents keep as a surprise until the baby's born
- ones with siginificance and meaning to the parents rather
- family names
- namesakes
- Abigail & Jackson...go figure

4. FIVE songs I could listen to over and over

-Blessed be Your Name -Chris Tomlin
-anything by Mac Powell & Third Day (I'm better by groups...love music and find
this too difficult)
-how you live (Point of Grace) Sticking with Lorrie on this one. Love it.
-When You Say Nothing At All and nearly everything else by Allison Krause & Union
Station
-Any 80's Song that Andy gets into singing in the car
-Every song that bring to mind a good memory


5. FIVE people who have influenced my life in a positve way

-My Family growing up
-Jr. High/High School Youth Director
-My College Roommate
-My Husband & Children
-My Best Girlfriends


6. FIVE things that are always in my purse

(I rarely carry one...why when you already have to carry the diaper bag?)
-receipts
-lipstick/chapstick/gloss (at least one)
-cell phone
-diapers/wipes/extra outifits
-wallet (with many pictures of my family)

7. FIVE moments that have changed my life (in no particular order)

-moments I spent with my Mom learning about Jesus as a child
-moments I spent serving others...vbs's, mission trips, teaching sunday
school/youth groups, soup kitchens, etc.
-the day I passed my Nursing Boards and got my RN license
-the day I married Andy
-the day I gave birth to Abigail and then the day I had Jackson
-the moment I accepted Christ as my Savior and the moments he's reminded me of his
love before and after

8. FIVE obsessions I have right now

-becoming a better homemaker
-taking pictures of the people I love...primarily my kiddos
-finding time for myself...really need a haircut and have been obsessing over the
idea of a pedicure
-taking a weekly trip w/ my little ones to Chic-Fil-A
-stopping complaining and instead working on the relationship at the source of the
complaint
-watching new episodes of The Office & Lost

9. FIVE places I would like to go
-shopping for a new dress
-on vacation with my family
-to Switzerland
-a spa to get that haircut and pedicure
-out west to see my friend Amy

10.FIVE appliances or kitchen tools I cannot live without
-dishwasher
-garbage disposal
-toaster oven
-microwaveable kid friendly dishes (oh yeah, and the microwave itself)
-fridge (what would we do without them)with you again Lorrie

11.FIVE people whose top 5's I would like to see
-Andy's
-Abigail's
-Mom's
-Molly's
-yours!

Obedience

Obedience seems to be a theme at our house this days. I wish I could say it's because we're excelling at it, but I'm afraid that's not been the case. We're working at it though and it's always a priority.

I am working at it myself in relation to my personal devotions. I woke up early yesterday in an attempt to try a new routine in which I would have my quiet times before the children awoke. Besides yawning and prying my eyes open, it was a very wonderful time with the Lord. The rest of the day was EXHAUSTING! I was falling asleep by afternoon while holding Jackson. I think I'm going to have to postpone my plan for rising early until Jackson begins sleeping through the night. But I know I need to obey God's instruction to be in the word and a routine is key.

My two year old Abigail is struggling as well. She is beginning to test her parents boundaries in nearly every way. The sweet little girl who used to say, "Yes, Mommy." Now shouts, "No!" Where did my angel go and who is this mean spirit inside her? As I give her time outs and explain consequences to sin, I am reminded of the importance of obedience at every stage of life. It never changes does it? We will always benefit when we follow our Father's commands and obey.

For bedtime tonight I think I will be singing, Trust and Obey. Not just for Abigail, but for me too.

Nap Time

Who knew when we were young that one day "Nap time" would be so much fun.

Motherhood is exhausting right now. Late nights, all nighters and early mornings are leaving me with little energy. I love it all though. I know that this time will be gone soon and I want to remember every yawn my son takes. He's great.

My Mother-in-law is here lending a helping hand and offering for me to take a nap. An offer I can't refuse at this point.

God Bless and Good night (afternoon).

Remember Mom

I love Mother's Day. I have been blessed with an amazing Mother and have treasured our relationship every day of my life. She's an incredible woman and Christian. It's nice to have a holiday for which I can find the nicest card Hallmark can make and it still doesn't measure up to the Mother I have.

So, have you purchased or made your Mom something for Mother's Day yet? It's Sunday. For those who have struggled with this earthly relationship, much like I have with my Father, my prayers are with you. I know it's difficult to celebrate when you may be even hurting.

Celebrate the joys Motherhood has brought your own life! It's our turn now. Let's learn from the best role model's we have and thank God for them.

Opening Day

I hope this isn't an omen. I just wrote my very first post and my computer froze up mid post!

I'm thrilled to share my favorite moments and musings on Motherhood. I am passionate about my calling as a mother of one and one on the way. I am learning as I go and celebrating the joy that being a Mom brings.

Today seems like an appropriate day to start my blog as I spent the day celebrating motherhood with two other pregnant moms, a mother of two and a mother of three. We took a break from our typical duties in Mommy World and left the children with the Dad's and relaxed at the spa in celebration of the upcoming birth of our dear friend's baby. How wonderful! Every Mom needs time for herself and the more I begin to realize this for myself the more my mind is invigorated...thus the launching of my very own blog for my very own thoughts on the beauty and joy of Motherhood.

My hope is that something that I write may encourage you as journaling/blogging is an encouragement to my own spirit.