Motherhood

We would mother differently, wouldn’t we, if we saw the direct connection between our investment in domestic life and the shaping of the world in which we live?

WOMAN.
BY EDWARD D. MANSFIELD

May, 1852

“THERE is a beautiful parallelism between the condition of woman in her domestic life, and the character of a nation. She is the mother of men, and the former of their minds, at that early age when every word distils upon the heart, like the dew-drop upon the tender grass. There is to that young mind no truth or falsehood in the world but that whose words flow from the mother’s lips. There is no beauty in character, nor glory in action, which has not been concentrated by her praise. There is to that climbing child no path where the mother’s feet has not trod. Her mind is to his the supernatural pillar of fire which illumines his mid-night ignorance, and the silvery cloud which at mid-day precedes him in every highway to the world.

And, even when science has conducted her pupil through the highest walls of knowledge; or when art has polished him into the accomplished citizen; or when power has dignified him with the memorials of office, she still lives in his soul, which she has imbued from her heart’s “pictured urn, With thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.”

Where do the days go.

I'm always amazed how time gets away from me. Some days an hour feels like a day. Last week feels like that was months ago, and sometimes a day goes by like minutes. My days have been filled with lots of things but things that one days over and over again with no end in sight. Some days I remember to start my day giving it to Jesus and asking for His strength and there are many days I let the day take over and find myself struggling to make it until lunch time.

This time of taking care of all five kids by myself with no break in the evening when husband comes home or a break on the weekend for a hew hours to myself to just catch my breath and not worry about the kids. I haven't had that and its been a really growing time. Some days I just it seems like every time one child is done asking for something another ones has a need. Where will I find the strength to meet all the needs my children have? Some days no one can get along and there are constant bickering and down right fights to break where do I find the wisdom to discipline and instruct them over and over? The only one I can turn to is Jesus and he does always meet me.

A few verse that have added much encouragement :

James 1:4-6
"Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

I have caught myself many times asking but then wondering why I did get what I asked for and feeling like I'm being blown around like a feather. I have to ask and not doubt. We must believe the Word of God and stand firm in what it says.


Romans 13: 14
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."


This a big one for me I have caught myself many time rushing the kids to bed without prayers so I can watch my favorite t.v. show without interruption. Yes I need time for myself but I would be much better off reading the Word or listening to a worship music. The needs of my children should come before my selfish desires to watch a t.v. show that has no impact on my life.


Romans 15: 13
" May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

My daily prayer that Jesus would fill my up with His joy and peace and that it would spill out of me and my kids would take notice. What better place to learn about really joy and peace and from the only true source that it comes from Jesus.


~Amy

I'm her example and she is mine.

This is my current daily reminder to take each day at a time and keep my focus on what really matters. Her smile, her kisses, her hugs, her words, are all so cute and precious but its much more than that lately. All of that reminds to calm down, settle down and/or slow down.

It's amazing how God can use anyone or anything to speak to us or teach us.
JoAnna lying on the sidewalk pointing at the moon. She would stay still a moment longer.

Carefree as can be.

I'm trying to follow her example.

I get to uptight about to many things.

Safe from Hurricane Ike but still discouraged!

I spent all Friday and Saturday preparing for the worst of Hurricane Ike. Thankfully Ike is just going to give us some rain days and get pretty windy. I still find myself this morning discouraged, under the weather, wanting to crawl back under the covers and not do anything. I am very thankful that I not packing up what I can carry and praying I have a home to come home to but still why do I feel so discouraged.

What I do know is that I've started my period. Elijah was up set that I didn't get him to school in time yet I had to yell at him 3 times to get out of bed. I do my part I get him up, feed him and have a clean uniform for him to put on and get him to school with 10 minutes until he had to be sitting in his first class. Where is the love where am I going to find the strength to make it through 5 teenagers. At least they come at one at a time. I do all I do for the family but were is the love. My big boys say I never do anything with them.

I also know that my husband is unhappy. He has gained most of his weight back and is discouraged that he doesn't have a new job offer yet. He is mad at himself about his weight gain and unhappy with his job. He brings all those feelings home and there isn't much I can do to help. I've tried.

I don't want to end this post without speaking goodness, thankfulness, and the truth.

The truth is that Jesus loves me and my family. He cares about my needs and concerns I just have to lay them down at his feet and he will lighten my burden. Jesus will show me His love even when I don't feel the love from my kids and hubby. So today I'm doing the mounds of laundry for Jesus, creating a weekly meal plan for my King, and I'm going to do the dishes as if Jesus himself were coming to have a cup of coffee with me in my kitchen. And while I'm working on those things. I will also be preparing meals, changing JoAnna's diapers, making sure Zeke gets his school done, and play with Josh so he doesn't get into to much mischief. Yesterday I found an empty white out bottle and the furniture he was painting and all the the drips that landed on the floor. My 5 gifts from God sure so keep me busy

Thankfully all my kids are healthy, I have a home with air conditioning, a fridge full of food, and a hard working husband and sisters and parents who love me and a Savior who has already saved me from myself.

I hope you have a blessed week. I will let you know how the day turned out. When I post my menu later today or Tuesday morning.

~Amy

Motherhood!

Who new. I sure didn't know of all the challenges that lied ahead of me. I've been a mother for 11 years now and still everyday seems like I don't know anything. The babies make your tired but its easy to love, feed, change, and play with them. Toddlers more challenging with potty training testing there boundaries. Its tiring always telling them no but it pays off later. To teach them to listen the first time. Not that my children always listen the first time but most of time. My pre-schoolers are fun time but always want to a project of some sort. I find it hard to find the time. Then there is the elementary age. They can do chores and be very helpful with the younger siblings but are in a new stage of testing there boundaries (how much they can get away with before mom will blow).
I'm very happy to be a mother and love that I have 5 children. I don't like feeling that something didn't get down today or that someone didn't get enough time with me, or that someones needs weren't met. I feel like I've tried different organizing tools but nothing seems help run the day smoother. Even my Monday Menu's are a good plan but this week alone something happened, time flew by and I missed 4 of my planned dinners and had to give the kids sandwiches or resort to fast food. Yuck! I would love any suggestions of running a smooth day for a homeschooling family with 5 children and a husband that works very long days and so leaves Me with very long days on my own.
I want my children to have happy memories with there mom and not just remember me as being a task master that is always frustrated and yelling. Pray for me and offer any advice that you can.
Have a blessed weekend. I'll keep you posted on my progress (on my journey).