Mothers

From the moment you discover that your body harbors a life, a growing person you become a mother.

There is something so pure, so deep, so profoundly mysterious about motherhood that perhaps no one will ever comprehend it.

We who were once babes ourselves- blossom, mature and become the vessels through which all life continues.

Mothers- when we choose to let our body become the growing home of a person we are forever changed. We can never been the carefree girls we once were.

Our bodies are grown, stretched, wrenched with pain and we succumb to this change- some willingly, some with resistance- and life is born through us.

And then begins the coddling, and sleepless nights caring for this little soul.

We shed many tears, we mothers; tears of fear, guilt, worry, concern, joy and pleasure. And these tears wash the edges and roughness from the humans we are- we become stronger more beautiful souls.

We run, we catch, we scold, we hug- and somehow these little people grow up- and their characters emerge.

We then begin to fret and worry over the people they are becoming and the lives they will live. Their failures are our lashings, their reprimands our scouring, their tears the bitter salt rubbed into wounds.

Sometimes we think we can do it all- sometimes we forget the place fathers hold and the guiding force we must let him take in these lives. Then suddenly we let go, and leave him the reins- and he guides these stubborn ones with a gentle hand and they stop their headless dashing. Let's let these fathers do more in the running of our households- our kids need that and so does our sanity.

Mothers- whose motherly power love will make her bold as a lion, whose very character seems to change in the process of motherhood, whose depths are fathomless, and love abounding. Thank you for bearing us life- thank you for guiding our faltering steps and believing is us.

Thanks for being our Mothers.

Mommy Stress - Part 1

Being a Mom is one of the most rewarding positions a woman could ever hold. But this very same title and the responsibilities and emotions involved can bring on some of the most intense stress a woman has experienced or will ever face.

It has been on my heart to write about Mom stress for a time. And yesterday I just happened to run across a program on Focus on the Family that again brought this to the light in my thoughts.


What are your areas of stress as a Mom?

For those of us with young kids (mine are 4 , 2 and 9 mos) your stress might look something like mine:

1. Lack of sleep (leading to impatience, frustration, difficulty controlling emotions)
2. Lack of personal time and space (no time for me and my hobbies and taking care of myself)
3. Frustrations over kid's fighting, whining, etc. 
4. Naptimes
5. Worry over the health, education, discipline of our kids. 
6. Worry about my relationship with my husband (do we make time for each other, do we communicate well, are we on the same page regarding our kids,etc. 

The list could go on and on.  But you get the idea, as Mommies we are continually faced with stressful situations.

What do you do? How do you cope? How do you get beyond the stress?

The fact is that as women our "stresses" are so interconnected they all add up to such a load that without some kind of "help" we will eventually explode unless we have a way of dealing with these things.

For me, my greatest hope is my relationship with our Saviour- Jesus. His word gives us all kinds of messages of hope. James 1: 5 says that "If anyone lacks wisdom he (or she) should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. . . "

I  find great peace in the knowledge that God will provide me such an amazing wisdom- it is available for me, and you!

There are lots of practical things we can do to deal with the stress we face as Mom's and I would love to hear how you do so.

Until another day!

The End of Me

It's another one of those days when nothing gets done and no one naps. When Mom is fed up to her ears in noise, toys and squished blueberries.

The kids are worn out from long summer evenings. My toddler has a snotty nose and she is crabbier than any two year old has a right to be. The baby is an angel and naps like a dream. But yet nothing seems to get done.

I feel I run circles wiping up messes, putting toys back, trying to harvest our bounty from the garden, keep meals on the table and keep my head afloat. It is no wonder I caught a cold.

I find myself at times stepping aside and looking at my life through the eyes of another me. One who can see things from the side and in perspective rather than in the frenzy of the moment.

I desire peace. I desire greater love. I desire to be an ideal Mommy and a great wife. 

Yet I run around grouchy, feelings of guilt crowding out my joy at all the unfinished and half accomplished tasks of my daily life.

It is quiet moments when I look at my life that I realize that what I am doing NOW is the life I am to live. My purpose and joy needs to come from doing a job well done in the little tasks I do every day.

The ME screams out that I am getting nothing done, that I must pursue MY business and write MY  stories. That I must have time for ME and MY hobbies and MY desires.

But these little persons in my care are in fact very needy folks. They are the ones I must give MYSELF to now. If I have everything in this life and yet my little people were to go down the wrong path in life I would always regret not having given more of me.

It is I who can influence them now and lay the foundations for a solid future. It is my husband and I who must teach them values and discipline and strength of character. It is I who must teach them when to lend a kind hand and when to be firm.

Only when I set aside the selfish ME am I able to be the person I was intended to be just now. The invisible Mommy. 

Things a Mother Should Know and Do

Being a mother is one of those things we all fantasize. We want to be the best one out there, kind, patient, always having the answer to every difficulty. But the fact is none of have it all together, we all mess up and we all could use some improvement. Right?!?

The past 4 years of motherhood have certainly had their ups and downs for me. And during these years I have learned a few things that I feel are essential for every Mom to keep in mind and have IF possible.

1. Granny/Nanny: Every mother needs a helper. Whether that be a grandparent or a now and then baby sitter, or a nanny. If you don't have a relative near by who can help you out for free than find a baby sitter or nanny-NOW!  At times we think we can make it on our own and try to cut corners (as in save money)- save your sanity and yourself by making this a priority! I have a girl who comes once or twice a week and then I can run errands on my own, with my infant and leave the toddlers at home (Even if it is only grocery shopping). I come home refreshed from having had a time of silence  and we are all better off this way. You know the old saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  
2. Don't Do It All:  For some reason we modern women often try to do things entirely on our own. We end up feel frustrated, frazzled and fed up! I don't know why it is so hard for us to accept help- whether paid or unpaid. But I advise you- put your pride aside and hire someone for that job that is never getting done at your house. For us this is someone to weed the garden- we love the idea of a garden and fresh produce. We can keep up with some of the yard work. BUT when it come to having a well weeded garden we just don't have the time. So, we have a girl who comes once or twice a week and weeds. She is happy to earn a little money and we are thrilled to have a perfectly weeded garden at least part of the time.
3. You're Not the Only One: When we live secluded in our home bubbles, caught up in the fusses and fueds of a house full of kids we start getting some negative thoughts. You are not the only one who calls your Mom on some days just to tell her how your kids are driving you crazy and you could use some help. You are not the only one who on occasion just wants to hide in the bathroom while the children scream and fight. You are not the only one frustrated to tears at times about the selfishness and stubborness of your little ones. Take a moment, pray, remember that you can do "Everything through him who gives  you strength, " and then re-enter this battle. Raising kids is tough- but you are not alone. 

That's all for today my lovely ladies.

What are some things you can't live without as a Mom? Any advice for the rest of us? 

Too much to do, Too little time aka A Day in My Life

As Moms I would say we are always feeling there is a shortage of time. Whether you have 3 kids 4 and under like me or more of them, or even just one child- TIME is just never enough!

I find myself whirling through my days trying to get as much done as possible.

Today I got up, got the kids dressed, ate breakfast and got into cleaning mode. My parents are coming next week. We get to see them once a year, living on the other side of the globe away. So this is a BIG event for us. I moved beds, swept, carried toys to a new location - so that the guest room (which when we have no guests is a play room) would be tidy, cleaned the kitchen, washed the cabinets, washed the dishes, swept the entry way and organized the shoes there. All in 2 hours! I am not usually in a cleaning mood and do not do deep cleaning often- I don't have time.

I was so happy my D-boy caught the spirit and got right in there helping me and wanting more cleaning jobs. Cute! Even my two  year old A-girlie was helping!

By this time the baby sitter had arrived and I got my newborn ready and headed to town. My older kids went out to enjoy the day with the sitter and K-boy and I headed out to run errands. We bought a gift and headed to the post office. Post offices are used for all kinds of OTHER reasons (like paying bills, receiving pensions, sending money orders, etc) in Latvia, which makes lines there sometimes hideously long and SLOW! Fortunately today was not too bad and we got in and out in about 15 minutes.

Then I ran a few other errands and called my honey man and asked him where he was and if he wanted to get lunch out rather than at home. We have not had a date in a while and he was all for it. We met and ate out. Nice.

Then I went home and had my quiet time while the sitter finished putting the kids down for their nap. Then since I am also my sitter's mentor we met and chatted, read, and prayed. Then my baby sitter went home.

K-boy woke up and I nursed him while checking my etsy, and e-mails. My toddlers were awake- but I had them stay in their room and look at books so I could "rest." Then I chatted with my Mama via Skype.

By this time honey daddy was home and the kids wanted to watch a cartoon. I let them watch two short Thomas episodes while changing baby. Then we decided we all needed to go outside and enjoy the nice day. Then we had to think about supper. . .

YIKES! Since baby was born I am out of whack with meal planning and only start fixing supper when my husband GETS home rather than the former having it ready and eating when he gets home.

We pulled out some leftovers and had a light supper and then all headed outside again.

I picked some rhubarb, which is just now coming on. I decided I should whip up a pie. So while my husband did yard work I literally whipped up two pies. I think that was the fastest I have ever made pies. BUT I really wanted to get out in the yard and do some garden work.

By this time my K-boy was wanting to eat again- so I nursed him, burped him and put him back in his buggy to sleep. Just as I began to weed in the green house he started crying. So back to baby again, and this went on all evening. He finally fell into a deep sleep and we got the greenhouse weeded. FINALLY!

Our older kids played in the yard. Their new thing is to gather moss and put it in water with some dirt and make "oil". Funny, but cute.  I remember making these concoctions too as a kid- but we called it soup. And when we had the year of the locusts we made locust soup- ha ha.

When we came in we had some warm pie- yum! My husband went off to men's Bible study. I put the kids to bed and "chilled" at the computer- catching up on convos and what not.

Yet despite this full day I feel like I didn't get enough done. The house isn't clean enough, the garden is still weedy. The floors need scrubbing and so on and so forth.

My husband has the capability of doing one thing and doing it well and thoroughly and until it is finished. I on the other hand swirl through life thinking about EVERYTHING and doing them all - but  not so well. Which is better? Doing all and not so well, or doing one thing and doing it well? Or does it not really matter?

Ok. . . who cares. . . Good night!