Sunday, June 30, 2013

Seasons of Motherhood

As I sat in Church this morning I had a sudden realization of how quickly life flies by.  There were 3 precious babies that just turned one this month sitting behind me making sweet noises and moving restlessly around.  All of a sudden when one hits his head on the bench and screams out, I realize I am sitting by myself listening to the sermon with no one demanding my attention.  My arms began to ache, I longed to snatch up one of those babies and snuggle.
Yet just a few short years ago I remember sitting in the same pew almost in tears because I couldn't get my babies to act right.  I remember longing for just one moment of worship time without the stress of worrying if my children were ruining the service for everyone else.  At times dreaded going because it was an emotional roll coaster, even when they sat with other people I heard every breath they made.  In time they were trained and now they even participate by reading, singing, praying, or taking up the offering.  Things I dreamed of while I was wrestling with my precious baby.  Yet now I listen to the sweet noise (it is amazing how the tone changes when it is not your child) and long for those days.

Mom lesson:

I can't tell you how many times have I heard Don't Blink or you will miss it.  Believe me having 3 boys in 3 1/2 years, I am sad to say there was a lot of blinking just to survive the baby stages.  I wish you could go back and visit those moments so you can truly appreciate them.  First so you can enjoy your precious child who wanted to wear superman shirts every where for 2 years. Second so you can remember what ACTUALLY happened, You can trick your mind into thinking a 3 year old stubbornness is cute AFTER you have survived it but while it was going on it was awful. 

SO some free advice from a mom who survived so far: 
#1 This to shall pass and a lot quicker than you think.  The Good Lord gives you strength when you ask!  My 3rd baby slept through the night when I brought him home from the hospital, and at the time that was a miracle!
#2  Deal with behavior issues NOW I know it is hard and you are tired but you need to be consistent and give your child a healthy respect for authority BEFORE you have to start training Attitudes and Heart lessons
#3  When a mom with older children offers to help with your precious baby, PLEASE let her.  You need a break and she needs the memories.
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
 a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
 
Whatever season of motherhood you are in remind yourself, there is some mother out there longing to be in your shoes.  Some may want to remember and others may be caught in the chaos. 


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Gator Bait

We were invited to go fishing at a friends pond.  Although there were some good size fish, we were invited to see the Gators.  That is right I said alligators.  As we drove up 2 swam up to the bank where we were sitting up to fish.  The smaller one swam in the reeds directly in front of us the whole time

The kids threw out their fishing poles and began to fish.  The youngest member of our Fishing team was great at catching.  He caught a "Ginormous" bass, but also hooked several trees and adults.  He impressed us all by giving the bass a kiss for good
luck.
  
Our Crew hooked a couple of Brim.  Gage was reeling one in and pulled it directly over the gator, that sweet "little" Gator Launched at the fish.  After that the kids were done Fishing.  They began trying feed the fish food, trying to entice the Gator to Bite another one.  The kids spent the rest of the afternoon racing around the pond talking to "Big mama"
 


City Girl lesson
I could not get over how many fish were swimming around the alligator in the water.  They were completely unaware of the danger they were in.  How often to we get so use to our surrounding that we are unaware of the Danger that is surrounding us.  1Peter 5:8  Be Self-controlled and Alert.  Your Enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 
It reminds me of the Song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns
 
It's a slow fade
When you give yourself away
It's a slow fade
When black and white are turned to gray
 
And thoughts invade, choices are made
A price will be paid
when you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

 You do not possess the tools to overcome your temptations.  Luke 9:23 Deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Christ.  Walk with God Daily, he wants a relationship with you.  Only than will you be Alert when your enemy is trying to devour you.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Fireflies

 
 During a beautiful summer evening Eric was grilling hamburgers and the boys were playing outside.  The sun began to set and our yard lit up with fireflies.
 
 
  The boys immediately grabbed their Bug buckets and took off to the field.  The boys filled their buckets loving every minute of it. 


 
Hutch was busy lecturing us on how important it was to be careful with them as he slings his bucket from side to side.  While Curtis was attempting to count how many Fireflies we caught, we heard Gage scream "Ouch one just flew in my ear, no it was not a lighting bug we are ok" 

 City Girl Lesson-
It was amazing to watch the bugs light up across the field!  I think about how God has called us to be a light in the dark world.  There were tons of bug in that field but my boys were drawn to the Fireflies because of their lights.  My Brother in law, Don, once did a lesson on how darkness is just the absence of light and when you bring a source of light the darkness immediately vanishes.  We often try to complicate the purpose of being a Christian.  It is to reflect the light of Christ in a world of darkness.  People will be drawn to Him not to you.  Don't try to turn yourself into something you are not, God did not mean for you to feel the pressure of being everything to all people.  That is what he is, you are just a flying bug that stands out in the darkness that can point others to the source of your light.