Asking my husband to grab me a glass of water on his way back through the kitchen or to do something extra during his planned duty seems to send the man into mass hysteria. Not really mass hysteria, but pretty darn close. I think moms have been given this special talent/blessing/gift of multi-thinking/tasking.
Walk with me as I head to change Connor's diaper.
Pick up the set of 10 Stacking Cups so I don't fall and tear my other mcl, pick up dirty pajamas that Bren & Ella left on the floor and get them into the dirty laundry basket, along with one of Jacob's random socks, pick up and put away the fort making materials (blankets), shut the bathroom light off and close the door, make Ella's bed, organize a new package of diapers on the diaper shelf, get Connor on the table, change his diaper and recite 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 that's posted by my changing table.
Our house is modest at best, nothing to boast about really; so although it seems like my walk took forever, really it was over in the matter of a few minutes. I'm always thinking and planning ahead about what the most efficient way to get everything I should get done, on my way to what I need to get done immediately. How much so is our time on this earth relative to this short walk to change a diaper? Our average 80 years of life is such a mini blimp on the radar of eternity. It is empowering and humbling. God hand picked me for this time right now and has every step planned out before I was even born. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! What will I do to impact the most people for Christ during my short walk here on earth? What am I doing today, right now, to show Him to others? Tomorrow is not always a guarantee, so whether you are walking to the other side of your house to change a poopy diaper or through court room doors; walk with your head held high in honor of Jesus who gave His life for you. Pray for Holy Spirit guidance & strength to take advantage of opportunities to reach out and pick up as many people as you can on your way to whatever it is you are going to do!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
The look of a Mom...
You know you're a mom the day you realize that your hips have spread
and they are never, ever going back into place again.
~How many of you have that perfect picture of yourself? I have one I really like when I was like 19. I was sitting on the floor, turned toward the camera which was behind me, my hair looked good and I looked thin. I have decided that once you have babies you can never quite think of yourself as thin again. Oh, sure a lot of moms lose all the baby weight, even more, but we will never look quite the same again...at least to ourselves. Not too long before I got pregnant the first time, my husband told me that I have good birthing hips. If you know my husband you would know that this was actually a compliment. Now, I keep this memory as a badge of honor...I do have good birthing hips and I make beautiful babies.
~For me, being a mom is all about loving. Really though I had no idea that I would be filled with so much love from the moment I knew I was carrying a baby. My first labor was so hard that when I held my Liam for the first time I was so exhausted that I don't even think I smiled. The pictures that we have don't reflect one anyway. I have never admitted this before but I felt guilty about that moment. I was so filled with love for this little one that I had waited so long for and I was so completely worn out. I decided that I would get over my guilt because that is no good thing for a relationship.Finn, my number two popped out with hardly any effort that it was easy to hold him and smile and say 'Momma loves you' over and over. Honestly though the pictures aren't any better. Just goes to show you that it doesn't matter what you feel you can never count on a picture to make you look good...and secondly, when you have a picture with a newborn baby, nobody is looking at you.
Today as I held my Finn against my chest and he spit up down my shirt as I read Liam a story before his nap I realized that it doesn't matter what I look like or when the last time I had a shower was, all that matters is that I am showering my boys with all the love I feel in my heart. May they always see the size of my heart and know that they are worth everything! My hips have spread and will never go back to the smaller size they once were, but so has my heart and that is what truly makes me a mom.
What We Eat
How does that old adage go? You are what you eat? ahhh no, strike that, how about: You might be a mom if ...
* you have become an expert at peeling grapes ... yeah you read that right ... grapes, not oranges.
* you can cut any type of food into minuscule pieces that will easily slide into and out of a 12 month old.
* you are so in the habit of these minuscule cutting techniques, your food usually ends up this way, too.
* you frequently and willingly test baby food with the tip of your tongue for temperature control.
* not a meal goes by that you don't employ the airplane, train, or any other fun/distracting/ha-I got-you-to-eat method at least once!
* the number 1 reason you know you are a mom is if you eat a hot meal all by yourself without cutting, sharing, or reheating multiple times and are in 7th heaven.
It's really the little things that matter when you are a mom. There's nothing that could have prepared me for the utter selflessness that comes with the mom territory. Sometimes God disguises grace as ignorance. If I would have known just how different the way I eat would be; would I still have made the decision to have children? Sure, that is stretching it a bit, but there are definitely days when all I'd like is to do is eat my own container of yogurt without having to spoon it into 3 begging mouths, who more then likely already ate their own yogurts.
Sometimes my priorities totally need to be in check. I often find myself bending over backwards for my kids, making sure they all get a taste of mommy's yogurt. All I'm doing is reinforcing a sense of entitlement sometimes. I often need to refocus my priorities and make sure my kids know God comes first, then their daddy, and then their 3 hungry little mouths. How will my children learn virtues like patience, kindness, gentleness, self control if their every need is immediately gratified? It's okay if they don't get a taste of my yogurt, it's ok if mom voids snack time, it's ok if they don't get that cool toy at the store everyone else is getting; sometimes being denied is a blessing in disguise. It's important that us moms aren't just focusing on the earthly apples and bananas but we're giving our children a daily dose of the fruit of the spirit, as well.
* you have become an expert at peeling grapes ... yeah you read that right ... grapes, not oranges.
* you can cut any type of food into minuscule pieces that will easily slide into and out of a 12 month old.
* you are so in the habit of these minuscule cutting techniques, your food usually ends up this way, too.
* you frequently and willingly test baby food with the tip of your tongue for temperature control.
* not a meal goes by that you don't employ the airplane, train, or any other fun/distracting/ha-I got-you-to-eat method at least once!
* the number 1 reason you know you are a mom is if you eat a hot meal all by yourself without cutting, sharing, or reheating multiple times and are in 7th heaven.
It's really the little things that matter when you are a mom. There's nothing that could have prepared me for the utter selflessness that comes with the mom territory. Sometimes God disguises grace as ignorance. If I would have known just how different the way I eat would be; would I still have made the decision to have children? Sure, that is stretching it a bit, but there are definitely days when all I'd like is to do is eat my own container of yogurt without having to spoon it into 3 begging mouths, who more then likely already ate their own yogurts.
Sometimes my priorities totally need to be in check. I often find myself bending over backwards for my kids, making sure they all get a taste of mommy's yogurt. All I'm doing is reinforcing a sense of entitlement sometimes. I often need to refocus my priorities and make sure my kids know God comes first, then their daddy, and then their 3 hungry little mouths. How will my children learn virtues like patience, kindness, gentleness, self control if their every need is immediately gratified? It's okay if they don't get a taste of my yogurt, it's ok if mom voids snack time, it's ok if they don't get that cool toy at the store everyone else is getting; sometimes being denied is a blessing in disguise. It's important that us moms aren't just focusing on the earthly apples and bananas but we're giving our children a daily dose of the fruit of the spirit, as well.
What Really Matters
Some days my thoughts of what really matters might sound something like this:
What really matters:
* did the poop leak out the back or front?
* if my kids washed their hands after collecting gold, aka bunny poop, from the back yard.
* Did I brush Ella's hair & make sure it didn't look like a rat built a nest over night?
* Did each of the kids get enough fruits, veggies, proteins, and carbs for the day? Early Easter candy can be considered a carb right?! How much should that vitamin account for?!
* Have I taken time to go to the bathroom yet? Can I safely sneeze or cough?
* Love is patient, love is kind .... even when your kids are not patient and are definitely not kind. (A mother's edition to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
On days like today, I realize what really matters isn't if the poop leaked through their clothes and onto the bed sheets, (which are a pain in my butt to change, especially crib sheets). Or if Ella matches or has brushed and fixed her hair. Or if the candy is brushed out of their teeth. Or if the neighbors can hear Bren playing/screaming/singing. What matters is that I'm enjoying every moment of being with my kids & loving them., that I'm showing them Jesus through me. That might seem a tad over dramatic, and I'm well aware it definitely is. Going in for a check up and coming home to schedule a sitter so I can have an ultrasound and mammogram done on a lump, that is not consistent with a fibrosistic change nor a cyst, has stopped be dead in my rushed, impatient tracks & made for a few overly dramatic, pity party moments today. I won't know anything until April 23rd when I meet with a specialist, a breast cancer specialist, who will read the results of my tests.
I thought I'd be prepared for moments like these. I've memorized verses like Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding), but have I ever needed them in a situation beyond falling down the stairs, or just being sick? No, not really. Have I ever clung to Isaiah 41:10 (So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.) No, not really. I'd like to think once I get the results from my tests, things will be easier to deal with. I'm sure this is just another greener grass on the other side thought. Not knowing what's going on sends my anxiety and stress levels through the rough. I know worrying isn't helping anything, but it doesn't stop the endless attack or words like cancer, radiation, chemo, ... death. When moments like these start, I'm going to strive to do as 1 Peter 5:7 instructs and, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I'm going to enjoy listening to Bren sing in his shakey singing voice & not shush him every time he reaches unbearably high octaves, I'm not going to sweat the tantrums and sassiness Ella pulls, I'm going to gladly change Connor's poopy blow out diapers knowing what an honor it is to be their mom. It's in God's hands completely, but that doesn't make it an easy situation to be living in. So thankful for the Bible and the immeasurable amount of encouragement and wisdom found in it & for supportive & praying family and friends. It's going to be a long few weeks! Even if this turns out to be a benign thing, my time is still limited and maybe I need to start focusing on what really matters and live like I'm on borrowed time.
What really matters:
* did the poop leak out the back or front?
* if my kids washed their hands after collecting gold, aka bunny poop, from the back yard.
* Did I brush Ella's hair & make sure it didn't look like a rat built a nest over night?
* Did each of the kids get enough fruits, veggies, proteins, and carbs for the day? Early Easter candy can be considered a carb right?! How much should that vitamin account for?!
* Have I taken time to go to the bathroom yet? Can I safely sneeze or cough?
* Love is patient, love is kind .... even when your kids are not patient and are definitely not kind. (A mother's edition to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
On days like today, I realize what really matters isn't if the poop leaked through their clothes and onto the bed sheets, (which are a pain in my butt to change, especially crib sheets). Or if Ella matches or has brushed and fixed her hair. Or if the candy is brushed out of their teeth. Or if the neighbors can hear Bren playing/screaming/singing. What matters is that I'm enjoying every moment of being with my kids & loving them., that I'm showing them Jesus through me. That might seem a tad over dramatic, and I'm well aware it definitely is. Going in for a check up and coming home to schedule a sitter so I can have an ultrasound and mammogram done on a lump, that is not consistent with a fibrosistic change nor a cyst, has stopped be dead in my rushed, impatient tracks & made for a few overly dramatic, pity party moments today. I won't know anything until April 23rd when I meet with a specialist, a breast cancer specialist, who will read the results of my tests.
I thought I'd be prepared for moments like these. I've memorized verses like Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding), but have I ever needed them in a situation beyond falling down the stairs, or just being sick? No, not really. Have I ever clung to Isaiah 41:10 (So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.) No, not really. I'd like to think once I get the results from my tests, things will be easier to deal with. I'm sure this is just another greener grass on the other side thought. Not knowing what's going on sends my anxiety and stress levels through the rough. I know worrying isn't helping anything, but it doesn't stop the endless attack or words like cancer, radiation, chemo, ... death. When moments like these start, I'm going to strive to do as 1 Peter 5:7 instructs and, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I'm going to enjoy listening to Bren sing in his shakey singing voice & not shush him every time he reaches unbearably high octaves, I'm not going to sweat the tantrums and sassiness Ella pulls, I'm going to gladly change Connor's poopy blow out diapers knowing what an honor it is to be their mom. It's in God's hands completely, but that doesn't make it an easy situation to be living in. So thankful for the Bible and the immeasurable amount of encouragement and wisdom found in it & for supportive & praying family and friends. It's going to be a long few weeks! Even if this turns out to be a benign thing, my time is still limited and maybe I need to start focusing on what really matters and live like I'm on borrowed time.
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