Motherhood

Oct
08

31 days to {a better} ordinary :: day 8 ~ do what’s important

Today was my favorite girl's birthday.

She turned twelve. Incredible.

She used to be so little.

And so funny.

Now she's so old.

But still funny.

And she wanted to spend her special day with me. Wow.

I could have spent this day organizing some closets. I've got plenty of them that need it. I could have gone to the grocery store, put away a whole week's worth of laundry, or sorted a stack of papers into my new accordion file. I could have done a lot of things.

But I chose to do something important instead. I spent time with my sweet girlie. We went out to breakfast, just the two of us, and this afternoon we all ate too many doughnuts (instead of cake). And it was so worth it. I wouldn't have traded this day for all the completed To Do Lists in the world.

While I'm in the middle of trying to create a better ordinary for my family, it's easy to forget why I'm doing this. Actually, it's always easy to forget. It isn't so I'll have a cleaner house or so I'll be able to find the scotch tape when I need it. That would be nice, but that's not what this is about.

It's about the glory of God. It's about finding manageable routines so that I'll have more time to love and serve my family. It's about creating a peaceful and beautiful environment where my family can relax and play and learn. It's about the people God has sovereignly placed into my life. And people are always more important than things. Even good things like clean houses and organized routines.

It's about a little girl who isn't little anymore. It's about the important things in life.

Click to learn more about 31 days to {a better} ordinary and to find links to all the posts in this series.

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Sep
22

Who Knew?

Yesterday, I knew I needed something easy for dinner. It was just that kind of day. I chose a super-easy meal from my menu: Rigatoni with Meat Sauce.

I simply boiled the rigatoni, drained it, and dumped it into an oven-safe dish. Then I mixed the pasta with some meat sauce from the freezer and half a jar of marinara from the fridge. Finally, I sprinkled a bunch of mozzarella cheese on top and popped it in the oven until melted. It really couldn't be any easier.

I was happy that I didn't have to work too hard and I was able to use up some stuff from my fridge and freezer. But my kids were happy that I had made one of their favorite meals. Say what?

When my youngest kiddo saw what I was making, he surprised me with a big hug and said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Um...you're welcome? Then, when my daughter came to the table, she was too excited and told me this was one of her favorite meals. Really? Who knew?!?

Have you had any surprising successes lately? Comment to share the fun!

Aug
25

For the Gospel

They interrupt my hopes for a peaceful day. They fight. They complain. They make messes.  They argue and talk back.  They need things.  Constantly.

And yet...

God, in His infinite wisdom, etched an intense love for my children upon my heart. He planted the seeds of that love deep within me when I was still a kid myself.  Then He gave me nine months, followed by the sweet years of childhood, to grow in that love.

But that's not enough.  So, thankfully, He did much more.

He loved me like I should love but don't. He saw all of my faults. He intimately knew all of my sins. He felt the pain of my rebellion towards Him, my rejection of Him.  And then He  etched His love for me into the wounds on His hands and His feet.

While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. While I am still a sinner, He convicts me.....and forgives me. He gives me grace for every moment. He reminds me, often through painful means, that I am a desperate sinner in need of a Savior.

That is the reason I love my children. It isn't because they're cute. Well, they are awfully cute, but no kid is cute when he's throwing a tantrum. It isn't because they're smart. Yes, they are smart, but no kid seems smart when she's arguing against your authority.

It's about the gospel.

It's about God's love towards this prideful and rebellious heart of mine. It's about His suffering for my sins against Him and then adopting me as His child. It's about a love I don't deserve and could never earn. Its about loving as Christ has loved me.

Standing in the middle of this messy life, I continually need to remember the cross. As I come to a better understanding of how much I've been forgiven, it's much easier to forgive those who've sinned against me.  The more time I spend gazing at the beauty of a holy God, the more I can see the beauty of the little ones put under my care.  And as I grow in my love for my Lord, I'm able to love others, too.

And those children of mine?  I love them dearly.  Sure, they make messes and turn my hair gray (at least that's my excuse), but they also make me smile.  Constantly.  They are gifts from God, and they serve as a loving reminder of the mercy and grace that's been shown to a sinner like me.  Amazing grace.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

Aug
18

Pause

It's that time of year.  School has started for my oldest kid, and our homeschool year will should start next week.  Members of our household have been in and out of town, and guests have been in and out, too.  Some parts of my home are simplified and organized, while other parts (the parts everyone sees) are covered with laundry and dishes.

It's just that time of year.

I should make some sort of To Do List for today, but I'm afraid I would start crying and just give up.  It isn't that bad.  Really.  But there are lots of little things that need my attention.  Some of those things are important and some aren't.  To list them all would be overwhelming.

So, I just thought I'd warn you that I may need to hit the pause button.  Actually, I've already hit it.  As I've said before, sometimes living a life of gospel homemaking gets in the way of writing about it.  That's alright.  I hope.

I'll get into the swing of things soon.  I'll figure out a new schedule.  I'll catch up on the dishes.  I'll stop trying to squeeze every drop of life out of summer.  I'll find the time to write all of those posts swirling around in my head.

But until that happens, don't be surprised if I seem a little scarce.  I'm here, I'm just doing other things.....like watching my kids grow up way too fast.

Jul
25

One of Those Nights

Do you ever have one of those days....in the middle of the night? I had that lovely experience a few nights ago.

I was tired. Really, I wasn't just tired; I was exhausted. We had spent one day walking around the Dayton Air Force Museum and the next day walking around the outlet mall. For hours. Hours and hours of walking for two days straight. I was thankful for my soft bed when we decided to turn in a little earlier than usual.

LITTLE DID I KNOW....

About half an hour after I fell asleep, I was startled out of bed by the screeching of our smoke alarm. I quickly woke my husband (I think that man could sleep through an actual fire engine rolling into our bedroom), but the alarm stopped before our feet hit the floor.

We walked through the house searching and sniffing, only to discover that it was a false alarm. (Actually, I think it was caused by our dryer that stopped working the following day. No more going to bed with the dryer running!) I went back to my covers and finally settled down enough to fall asleep.

But an hour later I was staring into the face of my daughter as she shook me from my sleep a second time. She had a bad dream. It felt like I was in a bad dream, but I walked her back up to her room. I prayed out loud with her and then silently for her as I rubbed her back. I finally kissed her head, walked quietly out of her room, and returned to the sheets that were calling my name. At last.

This time my slumber lasted about an hour and a half. Riley woke up and needed me. He just didn't "feel right". And his head hurt. A dose of medicine, a drink of water, and a trip to the bathroom later, and he was tucked back into his bed. We prayed, and I left him to go to sleep on his own.

I crawled back into bed and hoped and prayed for some uninterrupted sleep. Miraculously, I got it. I slept the rest of the night and woke up feeling....less than refreshed.

A TIME TO LOVE

It was not what I had envisioned when I put my head to the pillow that evening. It certainly wasn't what I wanted. But somewhere along the way (I think it happened while I was stroking Mackenzie's back), I realized that I had been given a unique opportunity.

At that moment, I was meeting my child's needs in a way that no one else could. I was showing my girl that I loved her more than I loved sleep. I was teaching her that I'm there for her when she needs me, day or night.

Now, in all honesty, I think I could have gone without being wakened that last time, but obviously God wanted to give me a little more practice in selfless love. I had forgotten how much my attitude can affect my late-night mothering. I had forgotten that "the teaching of kindness" sometimes takes place at all hours.

I know my measly interruptions are nothing compared to the night after night that many spend walking the floor with a crying baby or soothing a sleepless toddler. I've been there and done that, and my heart goes out to you.

But let's not forget that both our days and our nights are ordained by God. Let's keep in mind that serving and giving matter to God and matter to the little ones He so graciously gives us. Let's try to be thankful for those moments of blessing that God reserves only for us. Let's hope our treasured children will always remember that we love them enough to be there for them, whenever they need us.

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

Jul
04

Liberty’s Kids

When I think of the Fourth of July, many things come to mind: cooking out, watching fireworks, the blessings of freedom, the many lives sacrificed to preserve our nation.

Another thing that immediately pops into my head is Liberty's Kids. It is just too good to forget. In case you've never seen the show, it was a television series produced by PBS. And it rocks. Seriously.

The Liberty's Kids series is a cartoon that walks chronologically through the Revolutionary War period. It follows three kids who are reporting on the events surrounding that time, often getting themselves into the middle of the action. They meet every historical figure you can think of, and likely many you've barely heard of. They tell the stories of the heroes, both famous and obscure, who shaped their future and our present.

And the stories are masterfully woven together in a way that feels natural. They're exciting adventures. In other words, it doesn't feel like the plot lines are just a cheap way to teach a history lesson. Kids see right through that.

I've also been impressed with how the Liberty's Kids series handles some of the issues that other children's programs would like to minimize. People die, slaves are oppressed, religion is a way of life. It is not overtly Christian, but doesn't ignore the fact that faith was instrumental in the lives of many who shaped our nation. The characters talk about Providence and don't hide all religious notions. Impressive for PBS.

My kids have watched the entire series through twice over the course of the past year or so. They know more about the Founding Fathers and the first patriots than most adults do. And, after watching the show with them (or listening in from the kitchen while making dinner), I know more about the Revolutionary War than I ever learned in school.

Whether you homeschool or not, Liberty's Kids is the best tool I've found for teaching that all-important era of history. Watching it would be a great way to spend summer afternoons when you drag in from the pool or when the kids want an escape from the heat. It's educational entertainment worth investing in. I can't say that about many things out there.

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

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