Motherhood

Somtimes You Need To Be Mothered

Somtimes You Need To Be Mothered

Hey Mama, lean in close. I have to remind you of something…

You know how you’re mothering all day long? Like there is no break, ever. And sometimes when you have little babies, or babies that are teething, or toddlers who are scared, or kids who are sick, those days run together because you mother all through the night too. You wake up the next morning exhausted from the previous day, but are still so needed for the new day ahead.

Sometimes, if you’re not careful, you forget what you look like. Or you forget what you like to do. Or you forget the last time you finished something from beginning to end. Sometimes, you can even forget who you are. I get it. It’s easy to do. Because right now, this season in your life, you are mommy. And everyone needs you, all the time.

And right now, in this season, babies need to eat, diapers need to be changed, lunches have to be packed, dishes have to be washed, and my gosh ALL.THE.LAUNDRY. So thinking about what you like to do or what makes you feel alive seems foolish. Selfish even. Listen to me sister, it’s not.

We Never Give Up

We Never Give Up

Thanksgiving didn’t quite go as we had planned.

The fridge conveniently stopped working the night before Thanksgiving. We all but laid hands on the stupid thing to get it to work again, considering it held within it’s drawers most every dish we would ravish the next day. I know it sounds silly, but when I had to quit my job to stay home with our children because of Micah’s special needs, a thing like the fridge breaking is a big deal. And if I let it, could have easily send me down a thought path of fear and panic.

I whispered to the Lord about that stupid thing. Reminding Him I don’t really have a paying job right now, and how if the thing stopped working we would loose lots of food that also costs money. (Like He wasn’t aware. Or didn’t notice or something.) I think just the posture of me turning to Him was declaring my desperation of Him, regarding the fridge, even if it was a fridge. Anyways, Thanksgiving Eve started off a little wacky. We ended up going to pick out our Christmas tree which was the absolute best. Our hearts were full when we came home, and we checked on the fridge (that still wasn’t running) and went to bed.

The Treasure of a Tribe

The Treasure of a Tribe

I have a lot of best friends.

 

People make fun of me in conversations because I always mention a best friend. I heard someone speaking years ago about using the words “best friend” with great sensitivity. Because if you have a “best friend” then that means that spot is taken. I get that. I’ve been on the other side and felt the sting of being only a friend. But that’s not the case for me, I have best friends. A lot more than one.

 

I have friends who I love to see every once in awhile. But then my best friends, they are the ones that call and text every week. The ones we schedule dinners weeks out in advance because their lives are important to me. Their friendship is precious. They have walked through hard things with me, and I with them.

 

Dear Husband, I Loved You First.

Dear Husband, I Loved You First.

But often, you get the last of me.

I remember you picking me up for our first date. I spent a whole hour getting ready for you. Making sure every hair was in place and my make-up was perfect. When you see me now, at the end of the day, the make-up that is left on my face is smeared. My hair is more than likely in a pony tail or some rat’s nest on the top of my head. And my outfit, 100% has someone’s bodily fluids smeared somewhere.

But there were days when we would lay in bed and binge watch Netflix. They were my favorite. The thought of being with you for the whole weekend, got me through the week. We’d run down the street to our favorite Mexican place, eat until we were stuffed, grab some ice cream, and watch Chuck until we fell asleep. We’d laugh until we cried. And we wouldn’t wake up the next morning until we felt like it.

Remember all those Saturday’s we’d hop in the car and drive? Anywhere. Or we’d call up a few friends and ask them to meet us downtown in like thirty minutes? We didn’t have to be home at a certain time. If we stayed out late, it was fine because we could take a nap the next day. We went on lots of adventures, didn’t we?

And you got all of me. The very best parts.

God’s Heart for Mamas

Our morning had been interrupted numerous times by frequent stays in time-out. Partly from the late bedtime the night before, but mostly because I am parenting a two year old, sinner. I had just finished correcting her, yet again, at the lunch table. Through a repentant little voice and spaghetti smeared face, she whispered, “Mommy, you’re my favorite, mommy.”

My heart melted, obviously. The fact that even after my correcting her, and asking for her forgiveness for my tone in correcting her, she still considers me her favorite. That little voice, with those little eyes, speaking those words made all the minutes of our day spent in time-out worth every second.

I began this day with the ears and eyes of my heart open to God’s heart for me, as a mama. In John 16:13-15, Jesus tells us that all He has been given comes from the Father and the Spirit will disclose to us, all the Father has disclosed to the Son. This truth is one I’ve been mulling in for a few days.

So I’ve been asking the Spirit to reveal the Father’s heart to me as a mama. What is it that God wants more than anything as I parent these sweet ones He’s entrusted to me?

Nap time couldn’t come quick enough. I was in the baby’s nursery, rocking him to sleep. His eyes heavy from the morning activities, with his body cuddled up to mine, he slowly surrendered to rest. The truest form of trust. I laid him down in his crib with one fluid motion and with my best ninja moves, tiptoed across his room and quietly closed the door.

Resisting the Norm

Selah didn't crawl until she was 14 months old. She finally took her first steps two months later. For the first year of her life she just explored the space around her. She had no desire to lay on her belly to try to reach for something. She would play with one toy...