Great Reminder

I came across this article this morning and wanted to share! Such a great reminder :)


“I can’t get anything done!” I lament, as the kids make their happy noises and leave sweet tokens of their presence all throughout the house. “I will never catch up!”

This is a familiar scene at my house–is it at yours as well? Mom is exhausted and frustrated at the two steps she takes forward, just to take one step back…in housecleaning, in laundry, in potty-training, in correction and discipline, in kitchen clean up…it just feels never-ending.

In the midst of one of my complain-sessions recently, I recognized the error in my assessment of getting things done: What am I so in a rush to get done for? What is the important stuff that I think I’m really supposed to be accomplishing that being a wife and mother is seemingly keeping me from? By my actions and attitude, it would appear that I have been charged with greater uses of my time than caring for my family; that the mundane and repetitive tasks of motherhood and housework are merely obstacles standing in the way of worthier priorities.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Motherhood IS my job. Caring for my home IS my privilege. Preparing a place of rest and renewal for my husband IS the important work to be done. There is a deep selfishness in my own heart that idolizes comfort and pride. It is the sin of desiring what I think will make my life grand more than treasuring whatever it is that the Lord has given to me…to do, to care for, to endure, to carry, to count as joy.

How would our attitude and actions change if we were to recognize that breaking up fights between our children, teaching them about forgiveness of sin, correcting them in love, and then repeating that entire cycle again and again–IS our jobs as mothers! And yet, we tend to want to get them behaving properly once and for all so that we can move on to something more important. We are disappointed and astounded when they are repeatedly sinful, whiny, impatient, or lacking self-control, when it’s for these very sins that God made you specifically to be your child’s mother. How humbling it is when I consider this reality and compare it to the attitude of my heart.

Would we do dishes, fold laundry, or train up our children with a different attitude if it were Christ we were serving? Wouldn’t it seem foolish to complain to the Lord about better things we want to do with our lives if He were a guest in our home? No, instead, we would cook and clean with a sense of honor because Christ is residing there. Friends, He does reside in our homes and in our families. We serve Christ when we serve our families!

Being a wife and mother is not glamorous. It is not looked upon with honor in our culture. It is not always immediately rewarded. It is NOT EASY. Being a wife and mother is, however, a high calling. It brings honor to God, and it bears eternal value. He’s equipped us for any and all things He calls us to. It is through Him and for Him that we do all things!

Today, if you’ve been given the high-calling of mother and wife, I encourage you–as I preach the same to my own heart–to embrace the work with joy, with purpose, and with value. Be here, in the now. There is nowhere more important to be; there’s nothing more important to accomplish.



Related Posts:
When We Choose With Our Actions
Of Walks and Wings {What Cicadas Have To Do With Motherhood}
Make Time For Inefficiency
Look Your Kids In The Eye and Lower Your Voice
Feminine Appeal {The Rewards of Kindness}

Carpe diem...

Well, I thought life went fast when I just had Bella...but I was certainly wrong!  I feel like my days are so full and by the end of the day...I am just flat out exhausted!!!  Being a full time wife and mommy is by far the most exhausting job I have EVER had...and I've worked hard in my life...BUT let me tell you that it is THE MOST rewarding job in the entire world!

Yes, majority of my days are very similar...5 nursings, 3 meals to prepare, cook, serve and clean-up, at least 3 good sweepings of the floor, projects to challenge and occupy Bella, about 10 diaper changes a day, many trips to the potty as we train, a few accidents sprinkled in here and there, park dates, walks around the neighbor hoods...play dates, church, Bible studies, small groups, new friends, baths, playing, running, cuddling, tickling, crying, laughing...mending boo-boos, sewing buttons, ironing clothes, washing clothes, comforting the sick, encouraging new adventures...shopping, bargaining on re-sale pages, organizing and re-organzing...grasping for a few quiet moments to spend alone with my Jesus...and may even a warm shower =)   

But at the end of the day, the minutes seem to sometimes go by slowly as the days fly by way too fast...

I haven't blogged as much as I would have liked or cleaned as meticulously as I would have hoped... ...but you know what it's because I'm trying my best to seize the day...to truly end my day knowing that I gave everything I had that day to my husband and my children, to my family to my friends and most importantly to my Lord...

I try to carry my camera with me so I can try to capture sweet moments of my day to somehow make me feel better that I won't every forget these precious moments with my babies.  I truly desire to live each day as though it's my last...to have a tender heart to those in need to see this world through the eyes of Christ...to realize that life was not intended to be perfect on earth...that we were not created for this place but for something far better that we can not even begin to grasp with our human mind.  I'm just like every other mom...grasping for time to just have a quiet shower, hoping that maybe I'll get to use the restroom alone!?, I make it til nap time and then make that big decision...do I rest OR do I go get a chore done and start dinner...BUT when the day is done...and no matter what got done on my to do list...my prayer is that I was sensitive to what the Lord had on his agenda for me that day.  It may just be serving my family...which is what it is most days during this season of life...but I want my Lord to find me faithful in those small tasks that often seem to mundain...

So, here are a few precious moments of the past month...that I just want to take time and soak in...

My sleeping boy in my arms...

My spunky Bella finger painting...

The smell of a warm winter day...

The peacefulness of a sleeping terrific two year old =)

My handsome cuddled up...

Making funnies with my little guy...(no make up...no shower...and he still loves me just the same!)...

My princess all ready for church!...

Teaching sweet Bella to paint with a brush and water colors...

 

The cute little texts from Jer and Bella on their weekly library and lunch dates...

The love that my babies share...

The excitement in Bella's eyes as she rides the carousel...

Doing projects with Bella and seeing how proud she is of her hard work...

Running errands with my precious...

Anticipating a fun play date...

Spending time with new friends...

The soft chubby feet of my sweet boy...

Thank you sweet Jesus for each of these sweet moments shared with those I love...may I not take any of the blessings you have given me for granted...

Valentine's Day

Of course Jer is my true Valentine...but I also have these two precious bundles of sugar that are my little Valentines...

Sweet Isabella Corrinne...

And handsome Jackson Samuel...

We had a splendid Valentine's Day together!  We enjoyed a morning at home together...then we made a special Valentine's lunch which included a heart-shaped peanut butter sandwich. =)

We made a Valentine for daddy...and had it waiting on the door when he arrived home from work...

We  mailed our special Valentines to She-She, Pappa and Mimi...

Then, daddy took us out for a special Valentines Day family dinner together!  Our new favorite Mexican restaurant...

Snuggles...

And Kisses...

When we returned from dinner, Daddy gave us each a special Valentine's Day card...and gave Boo a special candy bracelet!  She loooooved it!  We even let her sleep with it...I mean what's Valentine's Day without going to bed with a sugar high!?! ;)

Lots to be thankful for this Valentine's Day...I'm thankful most of all for my wonderful husband who loves the Lord with his entire heart, sould and mind...because from that love comes an abundance of love for us as his family.  In addition, I am thankful for my two beautiful, healthy children and the privilege to be able to spend my days raising them and enjoying life with them as they grow up.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  Love from our family to yours!

9 months!

Seriously!?!  This little munckin of a man is 9 months!?!!  No way...slow down time!  As you can tell from these precious pictures that my mother-in-law took over our Christmas visit, Jackson is quite the charmer!  His tender little personality just warms my heart!  His smile brightens everyones day and his happy-go-luck little giggle certainly brings a smile to everyone's face when they hear it. =)

He continues to be a pure delight to our family.  The Lord certainly knew we needed sweet Jackson to balance our family dymanics!  He loves life...everything about life!  It's so fun seeing him begin to explore the world on his own as he crawls around..more like army crawls.  He is always ready for a good time and rarely pitches a fit...and he is in love with his beautiful big sis...

I'm sure there will come a day when he won't tolerate all her big sis ways...but for now he just squeals and giggles when she walks in the room!  He doesn't seem to mind when Bella plays mommy and drags him "carries" him all around the house!  (Don't worry...I try to always be close by...)  

Oh my...I love this little face...

Do you see the sweet sugar that just drips off that precius little chinny...chin...chin...

And these feet!  Look at those ankles...or should I say cankles!!?  I love kissing those toesies!!

This is one of our new family pass times...
Bella races around the island in our kitchen....and Jeremy holds Jackson in the flying position!  As soon as he sees Bella start running...Jackson starts pumping his legs and flapping his arms as he squeals....and Jeremy runs!!!  The faster he pumps the fast they run!  It's great!

He has decided the past month that he LOVES food!!  I finally figured out that he wasn't refusing the food...but he was refusing to be fed by a spoon!  This little guy is as happy as can be as long as he can feed himself!  So we pretty much skipped the pureed food and went straight to finger foods!  He loves it all!  He east a variety of veggies, fruits and grains now!

 "All done...give me more!"...

His stats:

Weight:  20lbs   55%
Height:  26 inches  55%
Head:  75%

His schedule:

6:30  Wake/Nurse/Breakfast

9:00  Nap

10:30 Wake/Nurse

12:00  Lunch

1:00  Nurse/Nap

3:30  Wake

4:00  Nurse

6:00  Dinner

7:00  Bath/Nurse

8:00  Bed