Pride and Thanks

Days fly by in this race of life. Days filled up with raising 3 kids, gardening, running kids about, painting, cooking and being a wife and all.

Spring is slowing making herself known and it is like being reacquainted with an old friend- the greenness of it all- somehow I forget every winter just how green this beautiful place is. The leaves have burst open, the tulips are waving their fiery heads. Aww. . . . how spring delights the senses.

I want to stop and express my thanks to the One who created all this. Thanks for provision, thanks for good times as well as hard- because He uses all of this to make us who we are.

We have been working hard at reading for our soon to be 7 year old, he must start school come Autumn and due to our dual language family and his learning to read already a bit in both languages his reading in Latvian is behind what it ought to be. Dad has taken over this "fight" and the Legos have been put away until he gets this mastered. He is reading, though slowly and is making improvements (though not without a daily quarrel on the matter).

I am so thankful that his teacher sees the progress and praised his good behavior this week at his kindergarten lesson. That was a like a breath of fresh air to this Mama's soul.

I am also so thankful my husband stepped in to fight this battle with out very stubborn boy who would rather be doing ANYTHING to avoid homework and reading practice. Since he stepped in our boy's respect issues have subsided and he knows his place again. We Mom's need to let our husbands rule these growing men in our homes. . .

Thankfulness - that somehow God works all things out for His good.

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.

Cultivating Thankfulness

At the beginning of 2015 I felt a need to work on a thankful spirit in my family.

Kids are so prone to entitlement in our times- and they fuss and complain and have a lack of thankfulness that is rather shocking at times.

I looked into my own heart and realized how much it hurts me when I ship an international gift- and never even hear a word that the receiver got the package I sent. I realized that not receiving thanks is painful to the giver and harmful to the one receiving.

I make a plan to endeavor to cultivate thankfulness in my life and in my home this year- because there is no other better way to teach our children then by example.

These are the ideas I had at the beginning of the year and that I am trying to practice.

• Write thank you notes - I have been trying to write hand-written ones- like we used to do growing up because that is so rare in our times-and hand-written notes are so special. If the gift was something given to my child who can't yet write then I have them draw pictures on the card as an expression of thanks (if they will cooperate)
• Be sure to thank those who assist me/us: clerks, doctors,strangers,etc. 
• Share those items we no longer need- rather than selling them- and when the kids have too much. 
• Make gifts- don't buy so much- use the talents I/we have and be thankful we have them. 
• Act Respectfully- Our kids will not respect their teachers if they hear us belittle them to our spouses. 
• Acts of Kindness- Say thanks to someone who always serves you and never gets appreciated (postal carriers, those who work in the places we always go and know their faces but not their names) by gifting them something baked or a gift card. 

How are you cultivating thankfulness in your family? I'd love to get more ideas! 

For Mom's

As a Mom there is something so special in feeling your kids appreciate you and and the work you are instilling in their lives.

I am so thankful for MY Mom who taught me to cook, sew, create art, care for babies and be womanly. In honor of Moms I am hosting a giveaway for a give certificate for YOUR Mom! Enter now to win her a gift certificate!


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Finding Peace

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Bible Gateway

It is easy to run in circles- overcome by stress. 

But this God- who draws broken, scared, angry, hurting, people to Himself seeks to give us peace. 

This peace that is beyond anything the world understands. 

This peace that is found in meeting God in calm and quiet- letting Him still our hearts. 

This is peace- the kind I find when I take a moment to be still before my Creator and let Him calm and soothe my heart. 

When Parenting feels like hell

Being a parent is by far one of the most difficult tasks a human will ever endure.

There are days when you feel you will pull your hair out- or go mad or lose it.

There are days when your kids will scream, whine, make faces at you, disobey, speak disrespectfully, hit, fight and cry. In fact- these might well be the majority of those days.

But there are days when your kids love you to the moon and back and you will look at them with pride and love and such joy.

But what do you do when this moment- this phase is so hellish?

My oldest is going through a phase (at least I hope that is what it is). He is nearly 7- and getting him to obey today and act respectully and do his homework, etc IS SO difficult. He mades faces, behaves and talksrudely, and does all manner of things which leave me wondering if this is really my child.

How can we survive these days? For me prayer is tops when I face a child I no longer know how to deal with. God alone can grant wisdom in these situations.

I did some reading on parenting this evening and liked this article- on correctly behavior.

This day has come to a close- the kids are calmly sleeping and I am mentally preparing for another day. Hoping and praying that tomorrow is more peaceful and my boy gets his joyful selt back-

 Oh LORD, grant us patience as parents and wisdom to guide these little people. 

My Baby is 3

Today my youngest turned 3! Wow, it seems so big in so many ways. 

This sweet little boy with his happy spirit and easy smile. He is enthusiastic about nearly everything. He is going through a stage where things are AMAZING! He loved his new CAT bulldozer today and said it was AMAZING! Cute! 

He is such a little talker- continually conversing with himself at nap time- when he is supposed to be sleeping. 

He plays so well with his sister- she is like a little Mommy to him at times- precious. 

This dear child who entrance into this world healed so many fears I'd had of birth- he has so blessed our lives! 

Thank heaven for little boys!