ABC's of Motherhood

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F is for "fun"

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Often what I need more than anything else at the end of a hard day is a good laugh.  I tend to take myself and my work too seriously.  

I think you should find at least one thing to laugh about every day.  Sometimes this might mean laughing at your own mistakes.

Having said that--allow me to give you a laugh at my expense. 

This morning was hectic.  The children were extra hyper and naughty.  One particular little two year old was being a stinker.  He kept taking everyone else's toys and being a general bugger.  I finally told him to put his nose in the corner--hoping that he would desire to mend his ways. 

 I went on my merry way doing laundry and homeschooling, all the while having a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something important.  Quite a while later I noticed this little lad dutifully leaning into a corner and I thought "what is he doing now?"

Just as I opened my mouth to ask him it occurred to me that I had sent him there.  I sheepishly told him he could go play.  Good thing I saw him or he might still be standing there. 

I don't think I'll be winning "mommy of the year" award today. 

So, what made you laugh today?  (Besides my silly mistake.)

Interference

I've been having problems with my Internet service.

It worked, but v  e   r   y   s  l  o  w   l   y.

I checked and rechecked the connections.

I fumed away to myself.

I complained to my husband about it.

Finally he called our Internet provider.

Apparently hearing all the "babies" in the background he asked.......

"Do you have a baby monitor?"

Actually we have two--one for each room with little people in it.

We promptly unplugged them, and our Internet works fine.

It made me think about something tho.

Sometimes when I pray--I feel like the "connection" between my Jesus and I isn't there.

I feel like there is interference.

And just like my baby monitors.

I need to "unplug" my mind from all the stuff around me.

And suddenly the "interference" is gone.

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"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"  Hebrews 12:1

Their Eyes

This is a post that I wrote about all our foster children. 

One of the first things I notice when they arrive are their eyes.

They are haunted.

Often they have seen things that are darker than I will ever see.

When you play---they watch you---not sure if you are safe.

They don't trust adults, or they trust them too much.

When they wake from a nap their eyes are clouded from a dream they can't shake.

But, when I sing to them........

Songs about a Jesus who will always be there for them..........

Even if I can't be.............

Their eyes soften and relax.

They seem to instinctively know Him.

Even though they haven't seen Him with their eyes.

ABC's of Motherhood

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E is for "easy"

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I'm convinced that I can make my own life more difficult than it needs to be.  I try to "do it all."  I make complicated meals, try to keep my house spotless, do lots of extras in my homeschooling.  I create the perfect life for myself. 

However, my family pays for it.  They have to live with a crabby wife and mom who snaps and growls her way through each day. 

Lately I've been making an effort to make my life a little more easy wherever I can.  I cook simply, I tidy the house several times a day--but I don't stress about it.  I do the basics with homeschooling, but I try to let my children learn some of the "extras" from real life. 

The result is a much more pleasant home.

What are some ways you make your life easy?

Why

Some of you might be wondering.

Why would we say "yes" to three more children.

When our arms were already full.

Let me try to explain.

When we got the phone call about these little kiddos.

We asked our two older boys what they thought about having some more children in our home.

They're 9 and 7.

The nine year old got tears in his eyes.

He said "We HAVE to take them mom---if we don't---who will?"

See he understands a little about foster parenting.

Tiny babies are easy to find foster homes for.

Small children are easy to find foster homes for.

Single children are easy to find foster homes for.

Sibling groups of two are a little harder to place.

Sibling groups of three are very difficult to find a home for.

It's easy to look at something hard, and say "That doesn't make any sense for me to do that."

My challenge for you today is from my nine year old.

"If I don't do it who will?"

ABC's of Motherhood

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D is for "do the next thing"

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As an exceptionally busy mom I often look around me in utter frustration at the many things and people that need my attention.  My mind spins and I can feel a little panic rising in my throat--maybe you've been there.  

The best way I know of to combat this feeling is to just keep going steadily.  Look for the closest thing that can be done and just begin.  Before you know it you will have accomplished a lot, and that panicky feeling will have disappeared.  

I first heard this poem on a radio broadcast by Elisabeth Elliot.  It didn't mean much to me then as a young wife with no little children.  Now, almost 15 years later it's beginning to make perfect sense.

Do The Next Thing

From an old English parsonage,
Down by the sea,
There came in the twilight,
A message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend,
Deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me,
Teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours
The quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-
DO THE NEXT THING

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment,
Let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity,
Guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows,
Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus,
DO THE NEXT THING

Do it immediately;
Do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence,
Tracing His Hand,
Who placed it before thee with
Earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence,
Safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings,
DO THE NEXT THING

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering)
Be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence,
The rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance
Be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness,
Praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee,
DO THE NEXT THING

-Author unknown

Riding The Waves

How am I doing--you ask?  Well, it's definitely NOT boring around my house these days.

 Oh, and if you like holding cute little people, or changing not-so-cute little diapers I might hire you. :)

Actually considering what our family has been through in the last seven days I would say we are surviving pretty well.

We have had a nasty bout of stomach flu, and two year olds are not very good at "hitting the bucket."  ( Thank you Lord for steam cleaners.)

Just to make things interesting we've also had some respiratory yuckiness going on.  One child with pneumonia, and several with nasty coughs and congestion.  For the record I think the pneumonia started before they came to our house.

Other than that we are having all kinds of fun with Duplos, and blocks, and toy cars, and babies.

Everyone is sleeping good at night.  Especially one very tired momma, and one pretty tired daddy.

I guess the best way to describe it is to say we are riding the waves--not sinking beneath them.

Next week I'll try to get back to more regular posting.

For those of you who have been praying for us---Thank You!!!