Life in the Mommy Stage

GRACE

Do you ever experience a moment where you think you might have a break through with a child? Maybe it’s something you’ve been trying to teach them or something they’ve been trying to do, and suddenly it seems like the lights turn on and everything clicks! Most of the time, I feel like I’m still waiting for those moments J but everyone once in a while it happens.

Actually, this time I’m not talking about my children as much as I’m talking about myself. Before children, I loved to read and spent hours reading books; however, having four children in four years put a serious damper on reading! But the kids are a little older now, and I realized that while I read my Bible and devotional book regularly, it would be beneficial to start reading other books. I recently finished a book called, “Loving the Little Years” and enjoyed it so much that I bought an additional book by the same author called “Fit to Burst”. I feel like this author, Rachel Jankovic, is really down to earth and has practical advice for moms. Through it all, I’ve been challenged in so many areas. I often tend to holler when I should stop and pray, to punish when I should have listened, and to respond with a harsh tone when I should reply with patience. I’m not going to lie…parenting is the hardest thing I’ve ever done! (And sometimes the rewards seem far behind) But, I’ve been challenged to stick with it, to pray with my kids more often, to listen to them when they talk, and to work to respond with grace. After all, my Heavenly Father never responds harshly to me, He always deals lovingly with wrong-doing, and chastises me with a loving approach, which is exactly how I want to deal with my children. Prayers are always appreciated, and as always when you start to really work on an area, God gives you examples to practice! J

Brothers..."boating" together

            We really had an overly full week last week between dentist’s visits for two children, a doctor’s appointment for me, mid-week prayer service at church, a Homebuilder’s activity at church, worker’s training at church on Saturday morning, and a benefit for a friend Saturday night, and taught Children’s church on Sunday morning. (Yeah, it was too much!) Anyways, by Saturday night, everyone was tired so all the kids were in bed by 7:30pm. It was about 15 minutes after we put them to bed, that I realized that it was “spring forward” night so really they were in bed at 8:30pm! It was a very depressing moment for me! J However, the busy weekend gave me many opportunities to practice what I’ve been learning! As in having patience with slow moving children, having a little extra grace on the child who is falling apart because his hat fell off, listening in the car to yet another story that I don’t really want to listen to. But it’s important to the child. So, I’m thankful for GRACE!

            God gives us grace as we need it, not extra to store up, not beforehand, but as we need it! A perfect example…read on: J

Wyatt-not feeling well

The kids slept in this morning until 7am. Woo Hoo! However, I was in bed listening to them stir (I haven’t been feeling that great), when Chandler came into our room. “Mom, there’s a puddle of pee on the floor in our room and it stinks!”    Well, awesome! (NOT!) But, it did motivate me to quickly get out of bed! J Upon arrival in the boys room, I discovered that there was indeed a puddle and a child that was naked from the waist down, except for socks, sitting there quietly reading a book! While cleaning up that mess, the child on the top bunk, Wyatt, started crying. To put it nicely, he was a mess. Apparently, he had an accident during the night and it wasn’t a pee accident! L The bed, himself, and Buzz (the stuffed Toy Story Buzz) all had remnants of a very nasty experience. And God gave GRACE! I managed to clean up the entire mess, bathe two children, and disinfect before I felt that feeling when my stomach started yelling -  STOP! J So, we survived and the laundry is started again and life is moving forward.  I love how God teaches me things as I need to learn them, He doesn’t give me more than I can handle (although at times it feels that way), He gives mercy and patience as I cry out to Him, and I am blessed!

We all face challenges, struggles, trials and hard moments, but this week has been a reminder of how much God loves me, protects me, strengthens me, and encourages me…WHAT AN AWESOME GOD!

Why, yes, it's definitely essential to wear swimming goggles when going outside in the snow!