Without a doubt being a mom is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had in my life. Never would I have imagined the sheer number of emotions and the intensity each one brings with it. It’s true, motherhood is hard work, and it’s time for moms to stick together. It’s my heart that by coming to you as a “seasoned” (that’s a nicer way of saying “older”) mom and sharing a little bit of what I’ve learned on the journey of being a mom. Here’s what I can tell you…it doesn’t get easier. Yeah, not the answer you expected, …
Books to help grow Moms and their Daughters
With so many resources available to moms these days, it’s not easy to know where to invest our time and money. After spending time with a group of moms of girls going through Five Conversations to Have with Your Daughter, I put together a list of good reads for a mom and her daughter. Having a “next read” helps us keep our momentum going. Some options simply nurture a love of reading, while strengthening an understanding of faith. Others are more openly devotional or Bible study driven. You’ll see that the suggestions for girls are organized by children, tweens, and …
Clearing Out The Clutter
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace… 1 Corinthians 14:33a NLT If you are like me there are some cabinets or closets in your house that are shoved, jammed, and packed full of “stuff”. So full, in fact, that when you open them you have to be on guard and ready for anything to happen. My tupperware cabinet is like that, you pretty much take your life into your own hands if you want to get in or out of that cabinet. Right now you’ve already started to think about that cabinet or closet in your …
Where does mom find back-to-school peace?
Are you ready for the lessons that come with a new school year? It’s the time of year when so many moms prepare to head back into the school year with all their might. Hoping to capture treasured moments and launch kids well, we try to make special Back-to-School traditions as deposits into the hearts of our children. We do our best to buy folders on sale, notebook paper in bulk, and extra crayons to share. We determine to be a parent teachers will love and commit to being real moms praying for real teachers. We hope there won’t be …
Finding Quiet in Our “Everything is Awesome*” World
In our dazzling million dollar budget animated everything is awesome sensory overloaded world… it is hard to think…to pause…to find quiet. Daily life now resembles the rapid fire visuals seen on huge 3D movie screens which dash at us so fast… we don’t pause… to calculate… to consider… The overwhelming roller-coaster of clamorous non-stop information penetrates our minds and splits our thinking…while silently shaping who we are… from the inside out. Our souls starve for quiet reflection amid the pounding chaos. For uninterrupted thoughts. For deep truth. When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the …
Motherhood Is Universal
She clutched a cranky toddler at her hip while her husband lugged a stroller up three bus steps. “Come on, buddy, find a seat!” She urged an unruly older brother, maybe four or five years old. Through her thick southern accent, I heard the unmistakable sound of tired. Make that tired-yet-trying-to-muster-patience. After all, we were in Disney World. It’s the happiest place on Earth. I chuckled under my breath as my husband hauled our own double stroller onto the bus. Our six-year-old climbed into a seat, so I wilted beside her and lifted our three-year-old onto my lap. She stuck …
How To Find The Peace Of God In The Midst Of Your Stress
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV Oh sweet mom, is it me or does it seem that there are things pulling at us from just about every angle of life these days. is it me or does it seem that there are things pulling at us from just about every angle of life these days. Click To Tweet It’s either the kids, our spouse, the job, our ministry, our friends, our finances, or even our health, sometimes all at the same time. It’s enough …
Empowering Kids to Make Wise Decisions
As my kids grow bigger, I’m learning to let them make their own choices. Even when I disagree. Like last Saturday, for example, at the grocery store. “Mom, can we get a watermelon? Please? Please? I love watermelon!” My seven-year-old spied a crate of enormous melons in the center of the produce aisle. She clasped her hands in front of her chest and pleaded. “Sure, we can get a watermelon,” I nodded. “If you promise me you’re going to eat it.” “I will, I will! Can I pick one?” “Uhhhh . . . okay.” Now, you need to understand—I’m really …
Being A Fully Present Woman
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you are interacting and yet not fully present? You catch yourself nodding and even saying something in response every now and then. It’s generally more like an ‘uh huh’ instead of a real response. You are smiling and pretending to be engaged, but the whole time you are actually somewhere else. We’ve all done it, we make the grocery list, text our kids, husband or friends, maybe even check in on Facebook…all the while in the presence of someone right in front of us. It might be the kids, our …
When Siblings Become Friends
From the day she was born, I promised. “Your sister is tiny now, but she’ll grow fast. Soon, not too long from now, she’ll be able to play with you. She’ll run and jump and share your puzzles and dolls. You’ll see.” “Really?” My firstborn, then just a couple weeks past her third birthday, gazed in tender awe at her new baby sister, the long-awaited stranger. “Yes, sweetheart. Someday, she’ll be your best friend.” Someday. It seemed so far off in those early months when we juggled two different stages under one roof. This one needed macaroni and potty training …